Newcastle United - what is success this season?
Newcastle United latest news: Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes, Dan Burn and Nick Woltemade are all on international duty this week.
International football will now take centre stage for the final time in 2025. Newcastle United head into the break having suffered back-to-back Premier League defeats away from home and hoping that they can transform their fortunes when they return to action against Manchester City next weekend.
Whilst Eddie Howe and those players not on international duty now have some time to rest and recover, the Magpies have a number of players away with their respective nations - with a few of those players facing crucial games ahead of next summer’s World Cup.
With just one international break left between now and the World Cup, qualification groups for that tournament are beginning to finalise around the world - and some big countries are facing the prospect of potentially not even reaching the finals.
International games haven’t even started yet, but two Newcastle United players have already made headlines after withdrawing from duty through injury. Here, we round-up what is facing Newcastle United’s international representatives during the upcoming international break:
Newcastle United’s international representatives - round-up
Anthony Gordon and Nick Pope (England) - withdrawn
Both Gordon and Pope were called up by Thomas Tuchel, but neither will feature for England during the international break. A statement released by the FA On Tuesday confirmed that both players had withdrawn from international duty due to injuries. They have been replaced by Chelsea’s Trevoh Chalobah and Manchester City stopper James Trafford.
Dan Burn (England)
Gordon and Pope’s injury issues means that Burn is Newcastle United’s only representative in Tuchel’s England squad. The Three Lions have already secured their place in next summer’s World Cup and have two final qualifying matches left to play during the break.
England v Serbia - Thursday 13 November (7:45pm kick-off)
Albania v England - Sunday 16 November (5pm kick-off)
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Bruno Guimaraes (Brazil)
For once, Guimaraes won’t be travelling too far during an international break. Brazil have two friendly matches to play with the first against Senegal taking place at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium.
Brazil will then head to the French city of Lille to take on Tunisia. Guimaraes will be desperate to impress Carlo Ancelotti in the penultimate international break before next summer’s World Cup.
Brazil v Senegal - Saturday 15 November (4pm kick-off)
Brazil v Tunisia - Tuesday 18 November (7:30pm kick-off)
Nick Woltemade and Malick Thiaw (Germany)
Woltemade scored his first ever goal for the senior German national team during the last international break and has the chance to add to his tally this month. Thiaw, meanwhile, has been rewarded for his good form at club level with a first call-up to the Germany squad since October 2023.
Julian Nagelsmann’s side haven’t yet secured their place at the 2026 World Cup but will do so with two wins from their two games this week.
Luxembourg v Germany - Friday 14 November (7:45pm kick-off)
Germany v Slovakia - Monday 17 November (7:45pm kick-off)
Anthony Elanga (Sweden)
Elanga has a new manager to impress at international level after Sweden parted company with Jon Dahl Tomasson last month. Former Brighton and Chelsea boss Graham Potter will take charge of Sweden for the first time this week and will use this time to prepare his squad for crucial Nations League games in March - matches that could give Sweden a backdoor route to the World Cup.
Switzerland v Sweden - Saturday 15 November (7:45pm kick-off)
Sweden v Slovenia - Tuesday 18 November (7:45pm kick-off)
Sandro Tonali (Italy)
Italy’s hopes of automatic qualification for next summer’s World Cup hang by a thread heading into two crucial games against Moldova and Norway. Italy currently trail Norway by three points in the group and have a vastly inferior goal difference - due in large part to Norway’s thumping 11-1 win over Moldova in September.
If Norway beat Estonia on Thursday night, then Italy know they must beat Moldova and Norway and also overturn a goal difference that currently stands at 16 behind the Scandinavians. A second placed finish in the group would give Italy a spot in the play-offs and another opportunity to book their place in USA, Canada and Mexico.
Tonali, though, may play just once for his country this month after Gennaro Gattuso admitted he would rest the Magpies man for their clash against Moldova so as to not risk a suspension. Tonali is just one booking away from being handed a ban by UEFA and if he is shown that against Moldova, then he would miss their crucial game with Norway.
Lewis Hall and Lewis Miley (England U21’s)
For a variety of reasons, both Hall and Miley have found regular gametime at Newcastle United hard to come by this season. A decent chunk of minutes away with the England youth set-up could be what they need to transform their respective seasons.
England U21 v Republic of Ireland U21 - Friday 14 November (7:45pm kick-off)
Slovakia U21 v England U21 - Tuesday 18 November (5pm kick-off)
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