Newcastle United

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "Jacob Murphy is an excellent crosser of a football. He's created countless goals for us over the years. Will [William Osula] still had a bit to do and he did it well.

"Second goal, it's great to see us back in form from set plays.

"It was always going to be difficult game today, Brighton play very fluid, open, attractive football and we are not in that moment. We had to withstand a bit of pressure, ride our luck, but we were always a threat and scored a third.

"Couple of key saves from Nick [Pope], the one early in the game was massive because you don't want to be chasing the game against them with their style.

"The crowd were really good with us today, I am delighted for them. They've witnessed everything in the last few weeks and have stayed with us and stayed loyal to the team. I thank them greatly.

"It's been a horrible feeling for us for a number of weeks. We have been looking to change our fortunes. The attitude of the lads during this difficult run has been outstanding. We stayed together, trained well, and we got our reward today.

"It's always nice to win for and with them [the club hierarchy]. They have always been really supportive. It was great they were here to see the lads give so much. We are together as a united football club.

"The feelings and emotions of trying to put it right, trying to find solutions and answers, get through to the players and connect with them in a different way - in difficult moments I try to focus on what's going to put it right, rather than anger and blame. I take the responsibility myself.

"It's been hard for my family because they see the intimate side of me behind closed doors. I haven't been a bundle of joy the past few weeks, so I am pleased for them as well."

• Listen to more from Eddie Howe on BBC Sounds

Newcastle defender Dan Burn speaking to BBC Sport Final Score: "We needed that, we have picked up some not great results lately. the win was important. It wasn't the greatest performance, let them back in second half, but it's great to get three points.

"A lot of the responsibility [for this season] falls on us players. The gaffer has taken a lot of stick, so that was for him today. Three games left anything can happen. We are well outside European places but we will give it a good push.

"I can understand the frustration, we have been on such an upward trajectory in recent seasons and we have taken a bit of a dip. We are looking to finish the season strong."

Did you know?

• All three of Newcastle United's Premier League wins over Brighton and Hove Albion have come at St James' Park, with the Magpies winning three of the last five encounters on home soil (D1 L1).

• Bruno Guimaraes assisted Dan Burn's goal, with the pair making their 150th appearance for Newcastle United in the Premier League.

Ciaran Kelly
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

This was an afternoon when Eddie Howe's big calls paid off when he needed them most.

The head coach justifiably kept faith with the bulk of players who put in an improved performance in a 1-0 defeat against Arsenal last week.

Having again decided to name £124m worth of forwards on the bench, in Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa, William Osula repaid the faith of his manager once more with the opener.

Dan Burn, meanwhile, who was preferred to Lewis Hall, doubled his side's lead against his former club.

It felt like Newcastle were in a commanding position, after taking a rare two-goal lead, as the confidence flowed through the team.

But how would they respond when Jack Hinshelwood pulled one back? Were Newcastle about to squander another victory?

Howe made a triple change in an attempt to prevent just that as he threw on Hall, Harvey Barnes and Wissa.

Newcastle had to ride out a nervy period, but those changes eventually paid off when Wissa was denied by Bart Verbruggen and the ball fell to Barnes, who lashed it into the net.

It was clear how much that goal meant to Howe, who was mobbed by assistants Jason Tindall and Graeme Jones on the touchline.

They have to build on it.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Newcastle's performance

What did you make of Brighton's display?

Come back on Sunday for a selection of your replies

Joelinton returns as Newcastle United make one change for the visit of Brighton.

The midfielder missed the defeats against Arsenal and Bournemouth through suspension, but is recalled in place of Jacob Ramsey this afternoon.

Anthony Gordon is not fit enough to start, but makes the bench after recovering from a hip issue.

Newcastle XI: Pope, Miley, Thiaw, Botman, Burn, Guimaraes, Joelinton, Tonali, Murphy, Osula, Willock.

Subs: Ramsdale, Trippier, Hall, Wissa, Gordon, Barnes, Elanga, Woltemade, Ramsey.

Danny Welbeck starts as Brighton also make a solitary change for the trip to St James' Park.

The striker, who has a fine goalscoring record against Newcastle, comes in for Georginio Rutter and captains the visitors today.

Manager Fabian Hurzeler has otherwise kept faith with the team who defeated Chelsea 3-0 last time out.

Brighton XI: Verbruggen, Wieffer, van Hecke, Boscagli, Kadioglu, Gross, Baleba, Minteh, Hinshelwood, Mitoma, Welbeck.

Subs: Steele, Julio, Dunk, Rutter, Kostoulas, Ayari, De Cuyper, O'Riley, Veltman.

There are four games in the Premier League on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Brentford v West Ham - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Newcastle v Brighton - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Wolves v Sunderland

• Arsenal v Fulham (17:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-off times 15:00 BST unless stated

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Newcastle still need a point or two to make sure of their Premier League survival, which is not something anyone expected to be saying about them come the start of May.

I do think the Magpies have enough points already - they have 42 and the most third-bottom Tottenham can get is 46 - but I also don't expect them to add to their tally here.

Brighton are on a roll and look strong candidates for sixth place and European football.

I am backing them to win and for Danny Welbeck to notch again for the Seagulls and finish the season as the top-scoring Englishman in the Premier League. He already has 13 goals this season, two more than Ollie Watkins for Aston Villa and Dominic Calvert-Lewin at Leeds.

Sutton's prediction: 1-2

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Chris Adams
BBC Sport journalist

Newcastle United host Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday (15:00 BST) with the two teams in wildly contrasting form as the visitors push hard for a European spot.

Eddie Howe's Magpies are languishing in 14th having lost four league games on the bounce. January 2021, when Steve Bruce was at the helm, was the last time Newcastle lost five top-flight matches in a row.

Geordie chore

Since a goalless draw with bottom side Wolverhampton Wanderers on 18 January – when Newcastle were eighth – they have lost nine out of 12 in the Premier League; a tough watch for the Toon Army, who were dreaming of a Champions League quarter-final a little over seven weeks ago.

At St James' Park, they have registered just one win in their past six games – last month's impressive victory over Manchester United, which came despite playing the second half with 10 men.

A delegation of officials from Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Newcastle's majority owners, flew to the North East for meetings this week and the club's dire form was said to be high on the agenda.

One worrying trend for Howe to address is his side's inability to hold on to a lead. Twice last month – at Crystal Palace and in the Tyne-Wear derby against Sunderland – Newcastle lost the game despite going ahead.

They have dropped a league-high 25 points from winning positions this season. To compound the situation, the Magpies have won just three points from losing positions this term, the joint fewest in the division.

Brighton breezy

A superb run of six wins in eight league games since being knocked out of the FA Cup on Valentine's Day has left Brighton dreaming of some romantic European getaways next season.

The Seagulls are currently sixth, trailing Aston Villa by eight points. Finishing sixth should mean qualification for the Europa League, but there is still an outside chance it could result in Champions League football.

How? It would require Villa to win the Europa League - they trail Nottingham Forest 1-0 after Thursday's semi-final first leg - and finish fifth in the league, the position they currently occupy.

Whatever happens between now and the end of the season, Danny Welbeck's status as a cult hero in East Sussex is not in doubt. The Englishman will feel very hard done by if he isn't selected for World Cup duty by Thomas Tuchel after the best goalscoring season of his career.

Welbeck, 35, has notched 13 top-flight goals so far, including two in the reverse fixture in October, a game Brighton won 2-1. Only six players in the competition have scored more in a campaign while aged 34 or older.

One more for Welbeck would see him become Brighton's outright top scorer in a Premier League season. He is currently level with Glenn Murray, who bagged 13 in 2018-19.

But the former Manchester United and Arsenal man hasn't been alone in Fabian Hurzeler's side's climb the table. A strong supporting cast has helped the Seagulls score at least twice in each of their past four league games, something they last achieved over February and March 2025.

Ciaran Kelly
Newcastle United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Eddie Howe had been here before.

It was just last year when the Newcastle United head coach delivered a presentation to the club's owners and executives at an annual summit at Matfen Hall in Northumberland.

Newcastle were on the cusp of ending a seven-decade wait for a major domestic trophy, by winning the League Cup, and on course to qualify for the Champions League at the time.

But this year's edition was a little different after Howe was asked "difficult" questions about his side's slide to 14th in the Premier League table.

Howe was upbeat on Friday as he reflected on the support he nonetheless felt at Thursday's meeting, but he repeatedly acknowledged how he needed to win games.

Following a torrid run of nine losses in 12 in the league, the head coach was "under no illusions" that results must improve in the final weeks of the campaign.

"Difficult runs force you to really re-evaluate everything and improve," he said at his news conference before the visit of Brighton.

"So, sometimes, the most disappointing moments are the times when you improve the most."

This summit had been in the diary for several months and was viewed as an opportunity to discuss infrastructure projects and recruitment plans, as well as the team's form.

With chief executive David Hopkinson and sporting director Ross Wilson in place, Howe feels Newcastle are in a better place to make smarter decisions and conclude deals more quickly than when they operated without a proper executive structure last summer.

The head coach also supports a shift in Newcastle's approach to transfers as the club widen their network, target younger signings and make better use of data.

Although Howe cautioned against signing "too many players," the squad will clearly look very different next season.

"Evolution, change and where the team goes is really exciting," he added.

"Because with some really smart additions, some really good recruitment decisions, you can improve really quickly - as we have seen teams do from last year to this year in the Premier League.

"Recruitment becomes the big focus and making sure we get that right."

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Former Newcastle defender Steve Howey says the Magpies will not be sucked into a relegation battle - but admits their league position is "not good".

Eddie Howe's side are eight points clear of the bottom three with four Premier League games remaining.

Howey told BBC Radio Newcastle: "I don't think we'll be in a relegation battle but, ultimately, where they are in the league is not good considering where they have been in the league over the past couple of seasons.

"While I thought it was a decent squad it's just clearly not strong enough for them to be competing on all fronts."

Newcastle supporter Anas added: "I think we'll be OK but one more win will allow us just to breathe a bit more easily and put this season to bed."

Hear the full conversation below or listen on BBC Sounds

Nat Hayward
BBC Sport journalist

Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Brighton at St James' Park (15:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Howe said a late call will be made on Anthony Gordon, who has missed the past two matches with a hip problem: "He did part of a session on Wednesday. It was great to see him back and on the pitch. He's a player of huge quality and one we've missed. We'll make an assessment on his fitness closer to the game after seeing how he gets through today."

• Howe was asked about an interview given by Yoane Wissa in which the striker admitted he "didn't wait the proper time" when returning from his early-season injury: "Yoane's only issue has been the injury he suffered [in September] and that he hadn't trained before then. When he returned he wasn't physically able to deliver the quality of performance he traditionally has done in the Premier League. There's no doubting the quality of the player, but can we get him in a physical condition to deliver his best performances before the end of the season? That's been the challenge."

• More on Wissa's form: "Since we've returned to full-team training we've seen a big lift in his performances because trying to get him fit with small numbers in training sessions is tough. As long as he continues to show that upward trajectory, we'll see the very best of him in the future."

• When asked about this week's meeting with the club's owners and hierarchy, Howe said: "It was constructive - good meetings. They clearly care so much about the club and the long-term planning going on at a lot of levels shows there is exciting times ahead for the club, regardless of what happens short term. The long-term vision is clearly there."

• Asked whether he felt support personally after the meeting, Howe said: "Yeah - no change in terms of the support, the infrastructure or how people are working. I was pleased by the level of support given to me but, of course, I'm still understanding of how football works and that we need results."

• On clarity over his future: "I've never needed clarity. I'm here, working and committed. That won't change. Obviously, the football club has to do what it needs to do. It has to see we're going in the right direction, there's a positive feeling and that we're fighting on all fronts to try to get results. I'm under no illusions the club needs results."

• Looking forward to Saturday's game, Howe said: "We need a win, the positive that winnings brings and to keep the level of performance we had against Arsenal. We need to back that up at home. Our home form has not been good enough so a lot is riding on this weekend for us."

• On the Seagulls: "We've had some defeats against them recently, mostly in very tight games. I don't think we can look back. We need to look forward and use those past disappointments as motivations for the game."

Hit play above to hear more from Howe speaking to BBC Radio Newcastle's Matthew Raisbeck and Look North's Nisha Joshi, or listen on BBC Sounds here

Listen to live commentary of Newcastle v Brighton on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Got a question about Newcastle? Get in touch here and we'll seek answers from our experts

Ciaran Kelly
Newcastle United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Newcastle United and LIV Golf have shared the same backers in Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) for several years.

But the PIF's plans to withdraw its multi-billion dollar backing of LIV Golf at the end of the season also came out of the blue for those working at the club when they heard the news a couple of weeks ago.

It highlighted how separate and different these investments are. There had not even been talk of business collaboration previously.

Senior figures at Newcastle were informed the pullout did not affect the club, however, and they have not seen anything that has changed regarding the PIF's commitment. The fund are still viewed as being engaged.

Newcastle's hierarchy speak to the PIF every day and chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan and a Saudi delegation are currently in the North East for an annual club summit at Matfen Hall.

A major capital investment is in the pipeline with an announcement expected to come down the line regarding plans for a new state-of-the-art training ground, which would underline the owners' backing.

Those at the top, including minority stakeholder Jamie Reuben, will hold additional discussions this week about the future of St James' Park, as Newcastle look to bridge a huge revenue gap on the Premier League's highest-earning clubs in the long run.

The off-site has also been regarded as a timely opportunity to analyse what has gone wrong during Newcastle's bruising season, talk about recruitment plans and plot how the Magpies are going to go about bouncing back.

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on how you think Nick Woltemade should be used by Eddie Howe.

Here are some of your comments:

Phil: I think he should be up front. He was doing really well to begin with. Seems it goes back to the unfortunate own goal against Sunderland that was the catalyst for changing his position, but he isn't the first or last striker to get an own goal. I want him up front and scoring goals.

Richard: This isn't rocket science. I'm old enough to remember "Beardo in the hole" and how he made Andy Cole a goalscoring record-breaker. If you want to get the best out of Big Nic you'll need to play a striker ahead of him and cover in midfield behind him. He's a very talented player but utilising a 10 like him means either a 4-4-1-1 or a 4-2-3-1. If done right and thoroughly practised (Eddie Howe trademark) then a 10 like Nic could be lethal and a fantastic alternative system to the standard 4-3-3.

Richie: I agree with Charlotte [Newcastle fan writer], Woltemade has shown he's an excellent footballer. The counter-argument though, is that we don't see training, we don't know how the players perform outside of matchdays. Eddie and his team do and it's pretty evident from recent team selection that they don't feel either Woltemade or Wissa are what we need up front. That's a damning indictment on the recruitment. Unfortunately, we folded under pressure from a certain Swedish fella and then bought in haste. We should have made said Swede sit on the bench, played Osula until he stopped sulking, and made plans calmly to replace in January. Hindsight is a wonderful thing! Hope we do a better job with the big overhaul this summer.

Phil: The main problem for Woltemade and Howe is they don't have wingers who can effectively play the way his formation is set out. If we want to get the most out of Big Nic in the current 4-3-3 set-up, we need to have the wingers who are chipping in behind the defence and with goals - this is only if he doesn't change his tactics. I think what will end up happening is Woltemade will be on fire at the World Cup for Germany as he is rested and they are playing to his strengths. I think this signing will be Howe's biggest undoing.

Gordon: Stick him up front in the reserves with a for sale sign on his back and cut our losses, if anyone will buy him of course!

Newcastle are planning a rebuild this summer with Lens' 21-year-old French goalkeeper Robin Risser and Manchester City and England stopper James Trafford, being considered for the number one spot. (i paper - subscription required), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Ciaran Kelly
Newcastle United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

As intense as last summer's transfer window was for Newcastle, there could be even more transfer activity in the coming months as such a rebuild is going to require smart trading, given the financial rules in place.

A theory has been put forward externally that Newcastle would benefit from dropping out of European football, as it would enable the club to spend up to 85% of their football-related revenue and net profit/loss from player sales under the Premier League's new squad cost regulations, as opposed to 70% for those competing in Uefa's competitions.

But that isn't the view inside St James' Park because Uefa's football earnings rule runs over a three-year period, so those accounts would still have to be submitted to European football's governing body, if Newcastle were to qualify the following season.

If Newcastle were to push against the guardrails this summer, they would be in danger of a breach down the line. Therefore, the need to raise funds to reinvest is crucial, as the club look to learn from last summer's lessons, widen their recruitment network and adopt an even more data-informed approach.

Such a shift to a more strategic trading model will not necessarily come as news to Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), Newcastle's majority owners, who the club's hierarchy speak to every day.

But chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan's latest visit to Newcastle feels significant, particularly at a time when a number of other PIF investments are being scaled back.

Senior club figures believe the fund remains engaged, with a substantial capital investment in the pipeline.

Read the full article here

Image source, Getty Images

Former Newcastle United defender John Anderson feels the Magpies showed improvement against Arsenal - but there is still work to be done.

"The thing about us is when we're at our very best, we play with pace, with high intensity, we close opposition down,£ Anderson told BBC Radio Newcastle.

"As soon as we drop below that, against Bournemouth and Crystal Palace that wasn't there, but I thought it was better against Arsenal. Was it where it has been in the past? No. But there was an improvement.

"We can take that forward against Brighton & Hove Albion at the weekend. We may well see another improved performance.

"The problem is we're not creating a great deal of chances or goals. From our point of view I think the goal, as good a strike as it was, was poor because we didn't learn from it."

It is "increasingly likely" 25-year-old England winger Anthony Gordon will leave Newcastle United in the summer. (Athletic - subscription required), external

Newcastle and Aston Villa are interested in signing Maxi Araujo, 26, from Sporting, with the Uruguay international able to play left-back and on the left wing. (Sport Witness), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Ciaran Kelly
Newcastle United reporter

Image source, Reuters

Newcastle United were about to make history when the club's owners and executives conveyed for their annual summit at Matfen Hall last year.

It was February 2025 and head coach Eddie Howe was on the cusp on ending the Magpies' seven-decade wait for a major domestic trophy by winning the League Cup. He also had his side sitting in fifth place in the Premier League and on track to qualify for the Champions League.

An almighty bar had been set going into this season, but Newcastle now find themselves in the bottom half.

So what has gone wrong?

Like anything, even when Newcastle were at their best under Howe, there is not a single reason.

Some issues can be traced back to last summer's turbulent window.

Brentford and Bournemouth, who are both above Newcastle in the table, have rebuilt and improved following the departures of several key players last summer.

But Newcastle are still feeling Alexander Isak's absence seven months after the striker pushed to join Liverpool on deadline day.

Of those signings Newcastle made, at a considerable cost, only defender Malick Thiaw has been an unquestioned success in his first season and too many who were already at the club have regressed.

The squad has been stretched - they were still technically fighting on three fronts as recently as last month - and it is only in recent weeks that Howe has had the luxury of extended training time with his players.

There were one or two signs of improvement against Arsenal at the weekend, but the fact remains Newcastle have only won three league games since mid-January.

Too often have you not known what you are going to get with this fragile side, even before uncertainty appeared to grip one or two individuals, whose futures look to be away from the club.

Just as they can beat Manchester United with 10 men, go to Chelsea and win and come within seconds of a famous home victory over Barcelona, Newcastle can also suffer damaging defeats by Sunderland, Crystal Palace and Bournemouth.

Newcastle's inability to build on openers and their vulnerability at the back means they have thrown away more points from winning positions (25) and conceded more late goals (19) than any other team in the Premier League.

Those are sobering statistics for any manager, regardless of what he has done previously, and Howe looks like someone who has been frantically searching for a solution.

While the system and substitutions have become a little predictable, Howe's team selection has been anything but in recent weeks as he looks to find a winning formula.

It still feels like there is much to play for.

Charlotte Robson
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Come on now. Let's play our tall German man up front. The season is basically over. The stakes are reasonably low. Give it another chance?

Much is being made of Nick Woltemade and how he fits into Newcastle's system. That sort of chatter, I think, is all well and good if he was a sort of bargain bin find or an academy graduate or something, but we paid upwards of £70m for this guy less than a year ago. We did that for him to come to the club as a centre forward.

For some reason, Woltemade has split opinion - a little in the fanbase but more so in the local media. I can't really understand it. An argument is made that we aren't able to score goals, and that we lost that element of our game last year with Alexander Isak's departure. I'd hold that argument in a little more reverence if Woltemade hadn't scored about six goals in his first 10 games for us. He is a proven goalscorer for Newcastle United.

I would also give more space to this argument if things were going swimmingly for Newcastle United this season. But they are not. I understand that we have a type of football that we want to be playing; a high press, with intensity. OK - a noble aim. But if it isn't really working, and we've got some space to explore ways in which to make it work, including using the £70m centre forward as a centre forward and adjusting how we play to allow for his natural fluidity in that position, then I think there is an obligation to try.

Woltemade had a little joy at the weekend coming on and playing a sort of number 10 position, but he wasn't on for long and ultimately that's not where he should be playing, so it is perhaps a moot point. He is, objectively, an excellent football player. We should be excited about that, and playing to his strengths.

Find more from Charlotte Robson at the True Faith: Newcastle United Podcast, external

Would you play Woltemade in the starting XI? If so, how would you use him?

Newcastle's decline in the second part of the season means they are set to end this campaign in the bottom half of the table.

So with no European football secured, questions are being asked of manager Eddie Howe and whether he should be looking over his shoulder this summer.

"It does feel like Howe may be on his way out in the summer," ESPN's Mark Ogden told BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club. "But I think Newcastle will live to regret that.

"He's the sane and calm voice in that club that they need, but the mood has changed among the fans and they have become frustrated.

"I don't think Howe is getting the benefit of the doubt for what happened last summer. The Alexander Isak situation was beyond his control and they lost their sporting director. They have had all types of upheaval.

"Howe is a manager who likes to be in control and although he's not totally in control of recruitment, they brought players in late and that weren't suited to the club. They've also had injuries.

"I think he's a really good manager but I do fear for Eddie Howe."

The Magpies are still reeling from a poor summer transfer window where they are failing to see much of a return from a £100m-plus net recruitment drive that Howe was heavily involved in.

"If there is to be a criticism of Newcastle then it is their recruitment in the summer because it has been particularly poor," added Chris Sutton. "They spent the best part of £250m and the likes of Anthony Elanga and Jacob Ramsey have all been on the periphery.

"The centre-forwards, who were brought in to replace Isak, just haven't fired. They've got eight goals between them and they spent a fortune on them.

"Howe's tried to use Nick Woltemade in a midfield role which doesn't suit him either. He doesn't fit into Howe's team because he doesn't make those runs in from behind and he's not mobile."

Watch clips above and blow or get the full episode on BBC iPlayer and on BBC Sounds