Eddie Howe says there is no reason to doubt Anthony Elanga, even after Newcastle United’s loss to Sunderland.
Elanga was one of the more disappointing players for Newcastle in that defeat.
He started on the right side of a front three alongside Anthony Gordon and Nick Woltemade.
It is hard to point fingers at just one player after that performance. The wingers did not do much, and the striker ended up scoring an own goal.
The team as a whole struggled, and it ended with another Tyne-Wear derby loss for Newcastle.
But it was not just about this one match. Elanga has not made much of an impact since joining from Nottingham Forest, with only one assist so far. Still, Howe has not lost faith in him.
Eddie Howe backs Anthony Elanga to bounce back after Newcastle lose to Sunderland
Elanga received plenty of criticism from fans online after the match.
It is hard to pin the blame on one player given how poor the overall team display was. He was not the only one who struggled.
Even so, it was no surprise that Howe faced questions about his decision to start Elanga during his post-match press conference, to which he replied by saying: “It wasn’t the finest day for any of our front players, I think, today.
“All through the game – but certainly in that first 60 minutes it was tough for them. I’m sure those lads will be reflective of their performance and know that they could have played better individually.
“I have to just try and find ways to help them and deliver them their best performances, because there’s no doubting the quality of those players.”
Why Anthony Elanga is not completely to blame for Newcastle United’s loss to Sunderland
Howe’s game plan against Sunderland did not go as intended.
On paper, having Elanga and Gordon play off Woltemade on the counter looked promising.
In practice, though, Newcastle were far too deep and struggled to do much even when they had possession.
Elanga’s price tag naturally brings higher expectations.
Obviously, he does need to offer more, but it is fair to say the setup did not do him any favours either.
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