Newcastle United need to improve if they want to match the heights of the 2024/25 campaign. If they want to surpass those heights and continue this period of sustained growth in Eddie Howe's system.
Struggling in the Premier League but making headway in the Champions League and the Carabao Cup, the Magpies must find that all-important stream of balance. The forwards are not in sync right now, and the finely-wrought passing patterns lack the smoothness when everything's clicking.
The win over Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday evening was hardly one to remember, but St. James' Park responded after the haggard defeat at the London Stadium against West Ham United last weekend.
Sandro Tonali was as brilliant as ever, claiming his latest Man of the Match award, but there were a few unsung heroes who came up trumps and reminded Howe of his squad depth.
Newcastle's unsung heroes vs Bilbao
Dan Burn opened the scoring in the Champions League with a stunning header. Perhaps it's inaccurate to label the 32-year-old Geordie an 'unsung hero', but he's certainly surpassed expectations since joining from Brighton for £12m in 2022, right at the start of Howe's reign.
Dan-Burn
Lewis Hall is back following a long injury, and his ball-playing expertise will open new dimensions. However, Burn is one of the staples of this successful chapter in the club's history, and he reminded Tyneside that he still has a part to play.
In the middle, Joelinton put in a commanding and powerful performance. The Brazilian has struggled at times this term, but he still offers a unique skill in the engine room, linking up well with Nick Woltemade up top alongside his goal after the break.
Further up the field, Harvey Barnes earned praise for a lively performance on the right. Naturally left-sided, the clinical forward showed the second string to his bow by showing off his fleet feet and crisp crossing to find the unmarked Joelinton, who scored.
But perhaps the most underrated winner on the evening was a man who staked his claim once again, having reportedly come close to leaving Newcastle this summer.
Newcastle 'standout' was set to be sold by PIF
Tino Livramento has missed Newcastle's past eight matches across all competitions with a knee injury, and while he's closing on a return, Kieran Trippier will feel that his efforts in recent weeks have demonstrated there is mileage still in the tank.
Kieran-Trippier-1
The 35-year-old was excellent against Athletic Bilbao, strong in his defensive duties while maintaining that ever-impressive creative flair when whipping into the area from deep and finding the head of Big Dan Burn, whose header was akin to an angled missile.
Handing the veteran an 8/10 match rating for his performance, Chronicle Live acknowledged the delivery to get Newcastle up and running, though also paid homage to his leadership and defending.
Kieran Trippier vs Athletic Bilbao
Match Stats
Minutes played
Assists
Touches
Accurate passes
Chances created
Crosses completed
Possession lost
Dribbles
Recoveries
Tackles
Clearances
Duels won
Data via Sofascore
We must draw attention to Bilbao's somewhat laboured performance. Trippier will find a sterner test against Brentford at the Gtech on Sunday afternoon, and Trippier will need to draw upon every ounce of his athleticism in this later stage of his career.
But it's curious to note that he's still got it, standing firm at right-back while pinging balls forward and altogether enhancing Howe's transitional tactical outlook. He is, after all, one of the finest defensive playmakers of his generation.
In fact, Trippier's haul of 38 assists across 212 appearances in the English top flight marks him as the fourth-highest out-and-out defender for that metric in the division's history.
Pinched from Atletico Madrid at the start of Howe's Newcastle tenure, Trippier established himself as "the best right back in Europe", according to Sky Sports' Dougie Critchley earlier in his Tyneside career, and he's still got a part to play.
PIF must be thankful that they didn't follow through with plans to part ways this summer.
Trippier in the Prem for Newcastle
Season
25/26
24/25
23/24
22/23
21/22
Data via Transfermarkt
Indeed, the £120k-per-week full-back has entered the final year of his Toon contract, but he may have parted with Howe's side a year ago, having agreed personal terms with Turkish Super Lig outfit Eyupspor before a U-turn was pulled.
The former England international's hefty salary and diminished role over the second half of his spell at Newcastle had made such a scenario seem far from improbable, though he and the club ultimately convened and thought that it was worth letting him see out the duration of his contract.
As Livramento eases himself back into the way of things over the next couple of months, Trippier will continue to earn starting roles across the various competitions in front of the club.
Newcastle's Kieran Trippier
Newcastle's Kieran Trippier
Once, Trippier was in with a shout as Newcastle's most important player. It was not that long ago that industry figures believed he was the finest right-back on the continent.
That might not be the case any longer, but the experienced ace remains an important part of Howe's plans, with journalist Charlie Bennett even singling him out as one of the "standouts" during the midweek win in the Champions League.