Former Newcastle goalkeeper and Amazon Prime Television pundit, Shay Given, looks on during the Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Liverpool FC at St James' Park on December 04, 2024 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England.placeholder image
Former Newcastle goalkeeper and Amazon Prime Television pundit, Shay Given, looks on during the Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Liverpool FC at St James' Park on December 04, 2024 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. | Getty Images
Newcastle United crashed out of the Carabao Cup at the semi-final stage - losing 5-1 on aggregate to Manchester City.
And the Irishman has seriously questioned the usage and contribution of £124million duo Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa.
Speaking after the Carabao Cup hammering by another one of his former clubs, Manchester City, Given highlighted the fitness of Wissa and the role Woltemade is being asked to play as a huge issue for Eddie Howe, as he thinks the Magpies are going backwards in the Premier League.
“It's a transitional period but Newcastle have been successful, winning this competition last year and getting Champions League football. There has been progression but it feels like there has been a step back in the Premier League,” said Given.
“There are question marks over Nick Woltemade. Where does he play and how do you get the best of him? Yoane Wissa is not fully fit yet. They are still creating chances which is a positive for Eddie Howe but Manchester City could have scored more goals. I feel that the balance of the team isn't right.”
Eddie Howe reflects on Newcastle United’s defeat to Manchester City
Reflecting on United’s defeat, head coach Eddie Howe said: “Yeah, tough first half for us tonight. I think we were craving that first goal We didn't get it. And when Manchester City get it, our task becomes even more difficult.
“I don't think we played well in that first half an hour. We were losing too many individual duels and when you do that against the quality of opposition that we were playing tonight, it's always going to be tough.
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“In saying that, we had good opportunities to score in both halves. And I think if you add up all our opportunities in both games against them in this tie, there's a lot of missed opportunities in front of goal, which ultimately I think has cost us.
“I think whenever you come here, you know to create chances is difficult. But I felt we were very much in the game, even when we conceded early.
“I think Joe Willock then goes up the other end and has a really good opportunity to equalise. We don't take it and that was sort of the story of that first half with Sven Botman going close. Yoane Wissa at the start of the second half and we could go on and on.
“There was enough there for us. But of course, in order for us to get through this tie today, we needed to keep a clean sheet ideally. We obviously didn't do that with our first-half defensive performance being not close to the level that we know we can play at.”
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Newcastle United issue official Anthony Gordon injury update
The defeat was compounded by an injury to Gordon at the end of the first half.
Providing an update, Howe said: “It looks like a hamstring problem. I don't quite know how bad it is. It was enough for him to come off, so that's a big worry.”
Newcastle are already without several key players, including Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton, Lewis Miley and Tino Livramento and Fabian Schar.
Howe will hope to have Guimaraes and Miley back for Saturday’s Premier League clash at home to Brentford while Joelinton remains a couple of weeks away. Schar and Livramento are ruled out until April and March, respectively.
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