Newcastle United owners Jamie Reuben and Yasir Al-Rumayyan
Newcastle United owners Jamie Reuben and Yasir Al-Rumayyan
"Thin". "Light". "Stretched". Those words were all used by Eddie Howe following Newcastle United's 1-0 defeat at Arsenal. Understandably so.
After all, Newcastle were missing Kieran Trippier, Lewis Hall, Joelinton and Alexander Isak at the Emirates. Those absences not only had an effect on the Magpies' starting line-up but, also, the bench. Just like against Chelsea, a week previously, two goalkeepers were again named in reserve. "We have lost a bit of firepower," Howe admitted.
Gary Neville was among those observers on the gantry who took note. "What Eddie Howe needs is not necessarily a better starting XI," the Manchester United legend said. "That's important, but he just needs a deeper squad. It's the Financial Fair Play stuff with Newcastle in terms of their revenues are lower than the other clubs at the very top of the league so he is restricted. He's got to be clever and smart in how he goes about it."
It is hard to argue with that. Newcastle's strongest XI have competed with the very best around. This group have all played their part in Newcastle lifting a first major domestic trophy in seven decades and the black-and-whites requiring just one more win to return to the Champions League.
However, to go to the next level, Newcastle need to reinforce a squad that has not been significantly strengthened in nearly two years. Do the numbers back that up? Well, according to Opta, only Everton's substitutes have scored fewer goals (one) than Newcastle's (three) in the Premier League this season. Newcastle's replacements have had eight goal involvements all told. For context, Fulham's substitutes lead the way with 23 goals and assists combined.
Yet that does not necessarily tell the full story about a spirited group. Only Liverpool and Manchester City have gained more points from losing positions than Newcastle (19) this season and the Magpies' substitutes have played their part in that return. Harvey Barnes, for instance, scored a thunderbolt at Wolves and set up Anthony Gordon's equaliser against Bournemouth to help secure three additional points in just those two games alone. Newcastle's Champions League fate would not be in their hands on the final day without those vital contributions from the bench.
Harvey Barnes scored a late winner for Newcastle United as a substitute at Wolves earlier this season (Image: PA)
It is also worth noting that no other side have dropped fewer points from winning positions than Newcastle (seven) in 2024/25. To the point where Howe has not always had to rely on his substitutes to change games but, rather, the Magpies boss has often used his replacements to give his starters a breather or to help see the game out.
However, if Newcastle are to compete in Europe and the Premier League next season, the black-and-whites are going to need to be able to rotate and call upon heavyweight options in reserve to get back into games. Everyone at the club is well-aware of that.
Newcastle's owners have committed to 'spending to the max' within the rules in the words of CEO Darren Eales while it was just a few days ago that Howe revealed the club's previous PSR issues 'aren't there for the coming window so I don't see any reason why we can't strengthen'. Doing so is going to be crucial this summer after fighting on multiple fronts stretched injury-ravaged Newcastle to breaking point just a few months into last season.
Aston Villa have since managed to find a way to do both. The Villains have, obviously, pushed the envelope, with the highest wage to turnover ratio in the Premier League, but Unai Emery's team reached the Champions League quarter-finals and the FA Cup semi-finals while also taking the race for the top five to the final day. Thanks in no small part to a deeper squad.
When Aston Villa came up against Newcastle last month, a few days after a facing PSG in the Champions League, Emery made four changes to his starting line-up yet those tweaks did not weaken the Spaniard's hand as Ian Maatsen, Tyrone Mings, Marco Asensio and Ollie Watkins all came in. The Aston Villa boss then had the luxury of introducing Amadou Onana, Jacob Ramsey, Ross Barkley, Donyell Malen and Marcus Rashford from the bench. All the while, a settled Newcastle side tired in the second half following a third game in less than a week.
Aston Villa only had a goal advantage, at 2-1, but Ramsey immediately played a key role in the hosts' third, after Dan Burn put the substitute's cross through his own net, and Onana added a fourth a couple of minutes later. It was the reminder of the power of a stacked bench. Not that Newcastle needed one.