Newcastle United entered this season with big expectations following their Champions League qualification, and after summers of frustration in the market, the club finally spent heavily in the summer.
Competing on multiple fronts requires options, and this recruitment drive ensured Howe could rotate while maintaining quality.
The need was particularly pressing in attack, where Newcastle have struggled to click in the early stages of the season.
They currently rank among the bottom clubs in expected goals across the Premier League.
Yet, their 4-0 win over Belgian champions Union Saint-Gilloise in the Champions League showed a glimpse of what this new-look attack could produce.
It was their first win of the European campaign and their biggest-ever victory in the competition, giving fans a reason to believe their forwards were beginning to gel – Anthony Elanga, in particular
Elanga’s performance vs Saint-Gilloise
When Newcastle splashed £55 million on Elanga in the summer, eyebrows were raised.
The 23-year-old winger had been seen as a bright spark at Manchester United’s academy before joining Nottingham Forest in 2023.
Last season, he impressed with six goals and 11 assists across 38 appearances.
For all his promise, critics questioned whether he could justify his price tag at a club with Newcastle’s ambitions.
Howe, however, has been steadfast in his backing of Elanga, stressing that adaptation takes time.
That patience looked to pay off in the Champions League win over Union Saint-Gilloise.
Elanga was electric down the flank, winning a penalty and constantly driving at defenders. His pace, directness, and ability to stretch the pitch gave Newcastle’s attack a dimension it had been lacking.
He was named man of the match, and while there remains plenty of room for improvement, his performance offered a glimpse into why Howe views him as central to Newcastle’s long-term project.
His stats underline his impact that night.
7.8km distance covered, 13 sprints, and 54 touches, as per Sofascore.
With 30 passes completed at 83% accuracy, he also created a big chance and won his team valuable territory with his relentless running.
These are numbers that show not just effort, but the effectiveness of a player starting to find his rhythm.
Newcastle’s attack may still be bedding in, but Elanga’s contribution suggests he is the man for the future.
The biggest loser from Elanga’s rise at Newcastle
While Elanga’s arrival signals promise, it also leaves question marks for one of Newcastle’s longest-serving wingers.
Jacob Murphy, the 30-year-old boyhood Newcastle fan, has been with the club since 2017 after joining from Norwich City.
Over his eight years at St James’ Park, he has made 224 appearances, scored 21 goals, and provided 36 assists.
Murphy’s best campaign came last season, where he registered 12 assists, many of them coming from his productive link-up with Alexander Isak.
Throughout the season, he received much acclaim — including from Craig Bellamy, who said he was an “outstanding professional.”
|
Jacob Murphy – 2024/25 |
|
|---|---|
|
Matches |
35 |
|
Goals |
8 |
|
Assists |
12 |
|
Progressive Carries |
79 |
|
Progressive Passes |
83 |
|
Source: FBref |
|
His ability to deliver crosses into dangerous areas was a huge part of Newcastle’s attacking arsenal, particularly in transition.
He ranked in the 99th percentile for assists per 90 (0.50) and the 84th percentile for crosses per 90 (4.99).
Isak’s struggles to adapt to life at Liverpool only reiterate how important Murphy was for both him and the side as a whole.
But football moves fast, and with Newcastle targeting Champions League success and looking to the future, Murphy’s role has already started to diminish.
Elanga has shown flashes of why Howe is building around him, and with competition for wide positions fiercer than ever, Murphy risks finding himself limited to a rotational role.
While his work rate and loyalty are beyond question, the brutal reality is that Howe is assembling a squad to challenge on multiple fronts, and sentimental ties are unlikely to outweigh tactical needs.
Murphy remains an experienced option from the bench, but the trajectory suggests that Elanga’s emergence will increasingly push him out of the starting XI.
For a boyhood fan who has lived the highs and lows of Newcastle’s resurgence, it’s a tough reality.
Yet his journey highlights the cutthroat nature of football where loyalty and service are often overshadowed by the relentless pursuit of progress.
