Prospects
It is safe to say that pre-season has not gone according to plan for Newcastle. After winning their first domestic trophy since 1955 and qualifying for the Uefa Champions League last season, hopes were high that the Magpies could kick-on with squad strengthening over the summer months.
Instead, Newcastle have missed out on a number of top targets, including the likes of James Trafford, Bryan Mbeumo, Joao Pedro, Hugo Ekitike and Benjamin Sesko.
Star striker Alexander Isak has downed tools as he looks to push through a move to Liverpool, while pre-season has seen the team go winless – losing four and drawing two.
But there remains a strong squad at St James' Park and a top-class coach in Eddie Howe. Keeping centre-back Sven Botman fit will be vital, they have a powerhouse midfield trio in Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton, as well as pace galore from Anthony Gordon and new signing Anthony Elanga.
Solving the Isak issue one way or the other and bringing in fresh talent up front will be vital before the transfer window closes.
Last five finishes
2024/25: 5th
2023/24: 7th
2022/23: 4th
2021/22: 11th
2020/21: 12th
First five fixtures
August 16: Aston Villa (A)
August 25: Liverpool (H)
August 30: Leeds United (A)
September 13: Wolves (H)
September 20: Bournemouth (A)
The manager
Eddie Howe: After Champions League qualification was sealed in May, Howe admitted there was “a big summer” ahead for the club that had not made any major moves in three transfer windows due to Profit and Sustainability Regulations (PSR) constraints.
What transpired has been big for all the wrong reasons, led by Isak's sudden itchy feet, as well as numerous swings and misses in the transfer market that have left Howe with a squad currently well short of numbers needed to cope with the rigours of Champions League football.
The arrivals of winger Elanga, goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale and defender Malick Thiaw are a start but additions to the central-midfield and centre-forward departments will be crucial if Howe is to have any hope of adding to last season's silverware.
Whatever the trials and tribulations of the summer, Howe's popularity with supporters remains undiminished even if the Isak saga is presenting the Englishman with the biggest test of squad solidarity since his arrival on Tyneside in 2021.
Star signing
Anthony Elanga: The fleet-footed €61.4m signing from Nottingham Forest has solved Newcastle's need for competition on the right flank and has the pace to give members of the Premier League's left-back union serious headaches.
Former Manchester United winger Elanga was an ever-present in Forest's successful 2024-25 season, scoring six goals and providing 11 assists to help the club qualify for European football.
The 23-year-old's performance in the final pre-season game against Atletico Madrid impressed manager Howe. “I thought he was a real threat,” he said. “I think we’ll see a real player that can make a difference and frighten the opposition.”
Key player
Sandro Tonali: The Italian midfielder stepped up a level last season as he put the misery of his ban for breaching gambling rules firmly in the past, establishing himself as one of the jewels in Newcastle's crown.
Deceptively quick and strong on and off the ball, Tonali was outstanding in the number six playmaker role he adopted in the second half of last season, thriving alongside Brazilian duo Guimaraes and Joelinton. Howe called the adjustment in Tonali's position his “single most important decision” of the campaign “that helped us find a better balance”.
The 25-year-old former AC Milan star will be a vital cog in the Newcastle machine as they embark in only their second Champions League campaign since 2004.
Hot prospect
Seung-soo Park: The 18-year-old South Korean winger only arrived from Suwon Samsung Bluewings in July and made an instant impression during Newcastle's pre-season tour of Asia.
The club's original plan was for Park's journey to involve the U-21s and then a potential loan move. But his performances have warranted a closer inspection with manager Howe saying he has been “very impressed by his early contributions”.
“He has come into the group and he has really impressed in training as well as the games,” Howe said of last week's draw with Espanyol, which Park started and saw him given a standing ovation by the St James' Park crowd when taken off in the second half.
“He has done really well in his little cameos, he has taken on a lot of new information on. Credit to him he has done it all with a smile on his face. He has earned the right to stay with us … we will take it step by step.”
On Women's Day
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The Uefa Awards winners
Uefa Men's Player of the Year: Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
Uefa Women's Player of the Year: Lucy Bronze (Lyon)
Best players of the 2018/19 Uefa Champions League
Goalkeeper: Alisson (Liverpool)
Defender: Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
Midfielder: Frenkie de Jong (Ajax)
Forward: Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
Uefa President's Award: Eric Cantona
How the bonus system works
The two riders are among several riders in the UAE to receive the top payment of £10,000 under the Thank You Fund of £16 million (Dh80m), which was announced in conjunction with Deliveroo's £8 billion (Dh40bn) stock market listing earlier this year.
The £10,000 (Dh50,000) payment is made to those riders who have completed the highest number of orders in each market.
There are also riders who will receive payments of £1,000 (Dh5,000) and £500 (Dh2,500).
All riders who have worked with Deliveroo for at least one year and completed 2,000 orders will receive £200 (Dh1,000), the company said when it announced the scheme.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
On Women's Day
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
hall of shame
SUNDERLAND 2002-03
No one has ended a Premier League season quite like Sunderland. They lost each of their final 15 games, taking no points after January. They ended up with 19 in total, sacking managers Peter Reid and Howard Wilkinson and losing 3-1 to Charlton when they scored three own goals in eight minutes.
SUNDERLAND 2005-06
Until Derby came along, Sunderland’s total of 15 points was the Premier League’s record low. They made it until May and their final home game before winning at the Stadium of Light while they lost a joint record 29 of their 38 league games.
HUDDERSFIELD 2018-19
Joined Derby as the only team to be relegated in March. No striker scored until January, while only two players got more assists than goalkeeper Jonas Lossl. The mid-season appointment Jan Siewert was to end his time as Huddersfield manager with a 5.3 per cent win rate.
ASTON VILLA 2015-16
Perhaps the most inexplicably bad season, considering they signed Idrissa Gueye and Adama Traore and still only got 17 points. Villa won their first league game, but none of the next 19. They ended an abominable campaign by taking one point from the last 39 available.
FULHAM 2018-19
Terrible in different ways. Fulham’s total of 26 points is not among the lowest ever but they contrived to get relegated after spending over £100 million (Dh457m) in the transfer market. Much of it went on defenders but they only kept two clean sheets in their first 33 games.
LA LIGA: Sporting Gijon, 13 points in 1997-98.
BUNDESLIGA: Tasmania Berlin, 10 points in 1965-66
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets