Newcastle United beat Athletic Club in the Champions League on Wednesday night, leaving pundit Joe Cole impressed.
Eddie Howe needed a response after Newcastle United’s defeat at West Ham United on Sunday.
Newcastle are strong at home, and that proved to be the case once again, as the Magpies beat Athletic Club 2-0.
Dan Burn’s superb header put Newcastle 1-0 up, before Joelinton added number two after the break.
Sven Botman and Malick Thiaw celebrate after Newcastle United beat Athletic Club in the Champions League.
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
Joe Cole compares Newcastle United squad to Chelsea
This wasn’t vintage Newcastle at times, but a 2-0 win was the perfect response after losing at West Ham.
The contrast between the home and away form has not yet been answered, and this group of players must win more on the road.
Pundit Joe Cole told TNT Sports after the final whistle that he is ‘perplexed’ by Newcastle’s shaky Premier League form and the brilliance in the Champions League.
Cole even noted that, while he likes the young talent in Chelsea’s squad, he thinks Newcastle’s is arguably more impressive.
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Cole pointed to the names in Newcastle’s squad, suggesting that Howe has a real ‘team of men’ at his disposal.
The former England ace is backing Newcastle to move ‘in one direction’ from now on, believing that a run of Premier League form is just around the corner.
“I’m perplexed as to why the Premier League form isn’t what they’re doing in the Champions League,” said Cole.
“We’ve watched Chelsea earlier on, they’ve got some wonderful young players, but this Newcastle team, I look at Trippier, Botman, Joelinton, Tonali, Woltemade, I know he’s young, but Guimaraes, they’ve got Nick Pope, they’ve got men. They look like a team of men.
“I think the West Ham result at the weekend will just be an anomaly, because I think this team is going in one direction. I think they will be into the pot in February time for the Champions League, and I think their Champions League form will kick on,” he added.
Newcastle United must turn up at Brentford
Newcastle responded well after losing at West Ham, and Cole is right to be impressed with the options at Howe’s disposal.
Some players are still finding their best form, but there is proven Premier League quality throughout the Newcastle squad.
Howe must now attempt to bring Wednesday’s display into the Premier League, as Newcastle head to Brentford.
There can be no excuses this time as Newcastle attempt to finally end the wait for a Premier League away win.
The talent is there, but Newcastle need to prove that the Champions League form can be carried into Premier League action – especially on the road.