Newcastle United have had a steady start to the Premier League season with some of their summer signings, like Nick Pope, making a big impact early to make our Power Rankings.
The Toon entered the international break 10th in the table, despite only winning one game so far. Eddie Howe oversaw the Magpies win in the St James Park natives’ first fixture over Nottingham Forest. But the Tyneside club have only managed five draws to one loss since.
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Liverpool are the only team to beat Newcastle to date, having taken a 2-1 result at Anfield late in August. Jurgen Klopp also needed Mohamed Salah to assist a 97th-minute goal from Fabio Carvalho to see all three points stay on Merseyside after the Reds came from behind.
A resolute defence has been pivotal to Newcastle’s results, with only four teams conceding fewer goals than the Toon’s seven. Brighton & Hove Albion shipped five in their six games, while Manchester City, Everton and Liverpool (in six) let in six goals in their seven matches.
Six players offering the eight goals that the Toon have scored will also have pleased Howe. But the St James’ boss will hope to get back to winning ways after the international break at Fulham. The Magpies take a trip to the 2021/22 Championship champions on October 1.
Howe will also hope the international break does not see any of his stars lose form. Some hit great strides in the early weeks of the Premier League season to make the top-10 of our Newcastle Power Rankings so far. But who made the cut among the 21 players to feature?
Nick Pope tops our Newcastle 22/23 Power Rankings so far as a star signing
Pope has been a superb signing for Howe after Newcastle struck a £12m deal with Burnley after the Clarets’ relegation. The 30-year-old has taken three clean sheets across his seven outings so far, having immediately ousted Martin Dubravka for the No.1 role on Tyneside.
The now nine-cap international is showing Gareth Southgate he can be England’s starting shot-stopper at the 2022 Qatar World Cup. Pope has stood up to almost everything he has faced with an array of important saves, particularly against Brighton and Manchester City.
Joelinton is picking up from where he left a Player of the Year campaign
Joelinton has picked up from where he left a Player of the Year campaign last season with a flurry of impressive showings. The Brazilian turned his Tyneside career around last term to take the club’s best performer honour after moving into midfield after flopping as a striker.
He almost never lived up to the £40m price tag Newcastle paid Hoffenheim in 2019 when played as a forward. But in the engine room, Joelinton has been an all-action presence on the pitch with a host of important challenges and interceptions to regularly win his duels.
Dan Burn has impressed whether he has played as a centre or left-back
Dan Burn has impressed in the Premier League so far this season to make HITC Football’s Newcastle Power Rankings. But he has also offered Howe versatility at the back with a few appearances as a left-back, as well as from the 30-year-old’s more natural centre-half role.
His towering presence in the backline has proven beneficial whether played centrally or on the wings. Burn has also delivered some important blocks, and stood out imperiously away to Liverpool. While the Toon lost, he was a key reason why the Reds took to stoppage-time.
Injury issues have kept Bruno Guimaraes from ranking higher at Newcastle
Bruno Guimaraes would likely be higher in HITC Football’s Newcastle Power Rankings had he not missed three games through a hamstring injury. The 24-year-old has protected the Toon backline well when he has played and sets the tempo for how Howe wants to play.
England international Kieran Trippier is a relentless force on Tyneside
Kieran Trippier has often been a relentless force on the right-hand channel at St James’ so far this season. The full-back has taken command of the wide areas and is consistently one of Newcastle’s most creative options through his endless crosses and ability at set-pieces.
Eddie Howe will hope to have Allan Saint-Maximin back from injury soon
Howe will hope to have Allan Saint-Maximin back from injury soon after the international break. The Frenchman has missed the Magpies’ last three matches with a hamstring issue sustained away to Wolves. He had earlier scored his first goal of the season at Molineux.
Saint-Maximin went to the West Midlands on the back of recording two assists in the 3-3 draw with Manchester City, as well. His absence has since been an issue for Howe, with the 25-year-old instrumental to what Newcastle look to establish in the left-hand areas.
Callum Wilson is Newcastle’s joint-top goalscorer but injuries have hit again
Callum Wilson is Newcastle’s joint-top goalscorer in the Premier League so far this season as one of two players with two. But the 30-year-old has only featured three times after he picked up a hamstring injury in August. A cruel blow for the striker after last term’s issues.
The forward only played in 18 top-flight affairs last term, having missed four months with a calf issue. Wilson returned for the final three games of last term, so to suffer another issue early into this season will have been very frustrating after leading by example in his games.
Alexander Isak is showing promise since a club-record summer switch
Alexander Isak is showing promise in his early outings for Newcastle since joining in a club-record £63m transfer from Real Sociedad in August. The 23-year-old already has two goals after three games, but could have scored more had his decision-making been a bit better.
Miguel Almiron is benefitting from a strong pre-season
Miguel Almiron has clearly benefitted from enjoying a strong pre-season this summer to feature in our Newcastle Power Rankings. The Paraguayan has not been perfect, but his work rate cannot be faulted. If he can improve his final-third pass, Almiron will improve.
Fabian Schar marginally pips Sven Botman to make our Newcastle Power Rankings
Fabian Schar marginally pips Sven Botman for a place in the top-10 of our Power Rankings for Newcastle’s Premier League term so far. The Swiss star and £35m summer signing from LOSC Lille have both been impressive to date, but Howe’s preference gives Schar the edge.
Howe has started Schar in six of Newcastle’s top-flight affairs so far, while Botman has only opened four. Schar has also merited starting more often with his last-ditch defending, has thrown himself in the way of a lot and he scored a wonder goal to beat Nottingham Forest.
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