After five games of the Premier League season, Newcastle sit comfortably in sixth place and just three points behind leaders Man City.
Importantly, all five teams above them have European competition to attend this season, while the midweek Magpies are mostly free.
This may not show as a benefit at this early stage of the season, but as we get deeper into the 2024/25 season, it’s a fair bet that players in the top five teams will start to feel a bit ‘permanent’ “, unless their clubs have managed the rotations perfectly.
In the meantime, Eddie Howe and his backroom staff can focus on making sure their team give their best every week and make things as difficult as possible for their opponents.
The strength of their bid will undoubtedly be enhanced by having best-in-class players on site, and the likes of Sami Mokbel of Daily mail + (subscription required), the club are set to agree a record deal with a brilliant winger.
Anthony Gordon is coveted by a number of clubs, but Mokbel suggests the wide man will be offered a deal that will make him Newcastle’s highest-paid player.
Top photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images