Newcastle United’s season has come to a close with a Champions League finish and here is how every player rated for their performances in 2024-25.
It’s been an incredible season for Newcastle United and it ended in style with a deserved spot in the Champions League, though only by the tightest of margins.
Eddie Howe’s side were defeated by Everton at St. James’ Park on the final day, but Aston Villa’s controversial defeat to Manchester United means Newcastle finished fifth on goal difference.
With the Carabao Cup triumph breaking the trophy curse, it feels like anything is possible for Newcastle next year but first, here’s how every player performed in this historic campaign.
Martin Dubravka – 7
Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
On a personal level, the season may be a bit of a disappointment for Martin Dubravka.
When Nick Pope was out injured, he stepped up brilliantly and even outperformed the No.1. Dubravka’s run of 10 games coincided with Newcastle’s upturn in form and he kept five clean sheets in seven wins.
Yet, after signing a new contract for another year, Dubravka was dropped upon Pope’s return and hasn’t played since February. He did all a back-up goalkeeper could do and was unfortunate not to keep his place.
Kieran Trippier – 7.5
Photo by George Wood/Getty Images
Photo by George Wood/Getty Images
It looked as though Kieran Trippier’s days at St. James’ Park were numbered at the halfway point of the season after seeing little action.
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However, the veteran has proven pivotal, with his experience and cunning playing a massive role in the Carabao Cup semi-final and final triumphs.
He has filled in admirably for the injured Lewis Hall and has proven he still has more than enough to give to a squad that will need all the help it can get in the Champions League next season.
Sven Botman – 5
Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images
Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images
Sven Botman has been mostly fantastic when he has played this season but, sadly, it has been nowhere near enough.
The centre-back started the campaign dealing with an ACL injury suffered last season and has been plagued by injuries since.
A broken kneecap and further knee issues have limited him to just 11 games, but he played well, especially in the Carabao Cup semi-final tie against Arsenal.
Fabian Schar – 8
Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images
Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images
Mr. Reliable. Fabian Schar has put in another excellent season as the classy operator in the heart of defence.
A red card on the opening day wasn’t the inauspicious start it threatened to be, with the Swiss being an ever-present and contributing six goals along along with his stellar defending.
Joelinton – 8
Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images
Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images
It’s been yet another all-action season for Joelinton, who has been the beating heart of Newcastle’s battling midfield.
The Brazilian did struggle at times when positioned out on the left flank but flourished in his best position. Joelinton’s strength, stamina and energy have ensured Newcastle outworked and outfought many sides this season.
Sandro Tonali – 9
Photo by George Wood/Getty Images
Photo by George Wood/Getty Images
It took Sandro Tonali a little while to find his groove after returning from his lengthy betting ban, but now he’s firmly established himself as the rose between two Brazilian thorns.
Once Howe positioned Tonali at the base of the midfield three, Newcastle started to sing. The Italian’s defensive prowess, power and reading of the game, coupled with elegant distribution, is what has made Newcastle such a solid yet dangerous side.
Callum Wilson – 3
Photo by George Wood/Getty Images
Photo by George Wood/Getty Images
It’s been a season to forget for Callum Wilson, and there aren’t many left. A back injury and then a hamstring tear saw him miss big chunks of the campaign and he has started just two league games.
Making an impact with such little time off the bench is difficult but Wilson rarely changed games and his only goal came against League One’s Birmingham City in the FA Cup.
Wilson looks likely to leave this summer when his contract expires.
Anthony Gordon – 7.5
Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images
Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images
It’s been a very promising campaign for Anthony Gordon but one that has certainly faded towards the end.
The exciting winger has shown that he was well worth the £45m Newcastle splashed out to sign him, with nine goals and seven assists, a healthy return.
However, the majority of his contributions came in a one-month hot streak, and he hasn’t scored or assisted since early February. A foolish red card against Brighton saw Gordon miss the Carabao Cup final and he lost his place to Harvey Barnes for most of the remaining games.
Harvey Barnes – 7
Photo by Eddie Keogh/Getty Images
Photo by Eddie Keogh/Getty Images
Barnes has also had an inconsistent season, but in reverse order to his competition for a left-wing spot.
Barnes did start strongly with four goal contributions in the opening five games but gradually lost his spot in the side as Howe settled on his first-choice wingers.
Game time was limited and injury saw him miss a month of action but, when given a chance upon Gordon’s suspension, he grabbed it with both hands.
Barnes was excellent in the final and scored or assisted in six consecutive games, including a fine brace against Manchester United. He’s had doubters but proven more than good enough to stay at Newcastle.
Alexander Isak – 10
Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images
Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images
If it wasn’t for Mohamed Salah, Alexander Isak would have a real case to be named the Premier League’s Player of the Season.
Only the Liverpool star has scored more than his 23 goals in the league, with the Swede claiming 27 in all competitions.
Yet, it’s the way Isak plays that is even more impressive. He is a world-class front man, capable of dropping deep and playing others into play with delightful passes or keeping it himself to charge past hopeless centre-backs. No one has given Virgil van Dijk the run-around like Isak did twice this season.
He is one of the most exciting players to watch in the game and one of the best strikers on the planet.
Newcastle are beyond fortunate to have him and it’s not beyond fancy that he could fire them to a genuine title challenge next season.
Emil Krafth – 5
Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images
Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images
Not had much chance to impress but Emil Krafth has played the squad role well all season and put in a valiant display when called into action in the crucial win over Chelsea.
Odysseas Vlachodimos – 1
Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images
Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images
Odysseas Vlachodimos may well go down as one of the worst signings in Newcastle history, even if it was out of necessity. Costing £20m, the Greek goalkeeper has played just 45 minutes all season.
William Osula – 5
Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images
Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images
William Osula is showing potential and is quickly becoming a fan favourite, with his first league goal against Ipswich feeling like a real moment.
That talent is still raw, though, and he may benefit from a loan spell next season.
Lewis Hall – 9
Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images
Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images
Though his season was cruelly cut short due to injury, Lewis Hall has enjoyed a fantastic year in which he has firmly established himself as England’s best left-back, earning his first international caps to prove it.
Hall showed you can be an attacking force while still being extremely dependable at the back and the quality of his deliveries deserves well more than the (still good) five assists he racked up.
He’s still just 20 but already one of Howe’s most important players.
Tino Livramento – 8.5
Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images
Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images
Over on the opposite side, Tino Livramento has been just as impressive. In fact, he’s even done it on the left, too, and done brilliantly on his unnatural side in Hall’s absence.
Like his full-back partner, Livramento completely dominated whichever flank he played on at both ends of the pitch. The one room of improvement is for his thrilling attacking play to result in more assists next season, as he got just one.
Nick Pope – 7.5
Photo by Cameron Smith - Danehouse/Getty Images
Photo by Cameron Smith – Danehouse/Getty Images
Nick Pope returned to the side after his injury amid doubts over his quality and has done very well to dispel them by putting in a string of strong showings. Especially in the final game against Everton.
However, there are still mistakes in his game and he clearly isn’t comfortable in possession, which has seen a goalkeeper become one of Howe’s biggest priorities in the summer window.
Jacob Murphy – 10
Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
Well, who expected that then?
Jacob Murphy has been on the chopping block since PIF took over Newcastle, with a more glamorous right-winger expected to be recruited.
However, the 30-year-old has proven it’s never too late to find the form of your career and put in a shockingly incredible season.
Like Isak, Murphy finds himself behind only Salah in the assists charts with 12. He got another two in the Carabao Cup, including for the final-winning strike. With nine goals of his own as well, the winger has put in fantastic numbers, made even more impressive by the fact that many had written him off.
He’s been the surprise star of the season and any new forward who is signed this summer will have a tough task in dislodging him if his performances continue.
Lloyd Kelly – 2
Photo by Daniele Badolato - Juventus FC/Juventus FC via Getty Images
Photo by Daniele Badolato – Juventus FC/Juventus FC via Getty Images
Only the fact that he arrived on a free and will go for a tidy profit stops Lloyd Kelly from being another terrible signing.
He played just 14 times before leaving for Juventus on loan in January, which will become permanent in the summer.
Joe Willock – 6
Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images
Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images
Joe Willock has not been first-choice once this season but has had plenty of chances to impress and has never really done so.
He has proven a useful and versatile squad player, and those will be needed with the increased burden of European competition next season, but Newcastle could certainly upgrade upon him, too.
Dan Burn – 10
Photo by Nigel French/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
Photo by Nigel French/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
What a season it’s been for big Dan Burn. Carabao Cup final goal, England debut and a season of sublime defending. You can’t ask for much more.
Sean Longstaff – 5
Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images
Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images
Despite being labelled as underrated by Tonali, Sean Longstaff has had few opportunities this past season, only just registering over 1,200 minutes of playing time.
He will almost certainly be sold in the summer.
Bruno Guimaraes – 9
Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images
Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images
Captain Fantastic. Bruno Guimaraes led Newcastle to their first trophy triumph in 70 years and was fantastic throughout.
His full creative potential was realised when Howe pushed him out of the holding role and into a more advanced position, leading to five goals and eight assists. That doesn’t mean he lost his bulldog spirit, though, and he battled like a warrior in every match.
Lewis Miley – 3
Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images
Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images
It’s been a tough season for Lewis Miley, who has seen the injury that ended his campaign early last year steal a massive chunk of this one, too.
The youngster still has sky-high potential, though, with one fine performance against Nottingham Forest showing he still has a big future at the club.