The Premier League has confirmed a dramatic change to one of English football’s most cherished traditions, with only one fixture set to take place on Boxing Day this year. Manchester United’s clash with Newcastle United at Old Trafford will be the sole Premier League match on December 26, breaking with decades of festive scheduling that typically sees a full slate of games across the country.
Newcastle United’s wait to see Yoane Wissa in action goes on. The £55 million summer signing has suffered another delay in his recovery from a Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) injury sustained while on international duty with DR Congo. Eddie Howe has confirmed that Wissa is “not close” to making his debut and will almost certainly remain sidelined until after the November international break.
Bryan Mbeumo reportedly turned down four clubs in order to join Manchester United in the summer. The in-form Cameroon international has made a blistering start to life at Old Trafford following his £70 million (€79m/$92m) summer move from Brentford, playing a significant role in what has been a dramatic turnaround in fortunes for Ruben Amorim's side.
Things are starting to get serious in the EFL League Cup - also known as the Carabao Cup - and we'll soon have just eight teams battling it out for glory.
Eddie Howe stopped short of getting embroiled in a war of words with Arne Slot after the Liverpool boss labelled Newcastle a “smaller club” when questioning their handling of Alexander Isak. The striker was in the process of regaining his match fitness following his British record transfer in the summer, before sustaining a groin injury in the Reds' victory over Eintracht Frankfurt on Wednesday.
The famous Newcastle badge is undergoing a major redesign, which is scheduled to adorn club kits and training apparel within the next couple of years. The updated designs, which some see as a controversial and unnecessary change, have been shown to club chiefs and won’t be signed off without fan approval.
Alan Shearer has risked the wrath of Alexander Isak by insisting Hugo Ekitike should be viewed as Liverpool’s first choice striker. The Newcastle legend was an outspoken critic of the Sweden international’s behaviour over the summer as he went on strike in order to force through his £125 million (€144.5m/$169m) British record transfer to Arne Slot’s side.
Former Newcastle, Liverpool, and Manchester City midfielder Dietmar Hamann has heaped high praise on the Magpies’ record signing Nick Woltemade, boldly claiming that the German striker is “better in the air than Peter Crouch.” The comparison has drawn attention across English football, with Woltemade’s early Premier League form backing up Hamann’s words.
Jose Mourinho has aimed a veiled dig at Newcastle over the atmosphere created at St James’ Park during the clash with Benfica, which the Magpies won 3-0. The Geordie faithful pride themselves on the hostile reception they generate for away players and fans, with a raucous atmosphere regularly created in the ground, and they will not take kindly to hearing the Special One’s negative comments.
Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali signed an extension to his contract after he was banned for gambling offences, until 2029, while the Magpies also hold the power to extend his deal by another year until 2030. The midfielder signed for the club in the summer of 2023 but was banned in the October of that year, subsequently missing 10 months of football.
Anthony Gordon has revealed what Jose Mourinho told him at full-time after Newcastle beat Benfica 3-0 in the Champions League on Tuesday evening. The England winger scored the first goal of the game and assisted the third from Harvey Barnes as Eddie Howe's side recorded a thumping win.
Jose Mourinho has admitted that "killer" Newcastle were too strong for Benfica, who could not "compete with their horsepower" during their Champions League mauling on Tuesday evening at St. James' Park. The ‘Special One’ believes Eddie Howe’s men belong to a different league after a 3-0 defeat that left the visitors reeling and without a single point after three matches in Europe.
Newcastle made it successive Champions League wins on Tuesday with what was ultimately a routine 3-0 win over Jose Mourinho's Benfica at St James' Park. Anthony Gordon scored in Europe for the fourth time this season, before Harvey Barnes came off the bench to wrap up maximum points with a brace for Eddie Howe's side. There was even a remarkable assist for Toon goalkeeper Nick Pope.
Jose Mourinho has brushed aside Newcastle job links and insisted that he "wouldn't trade Benfica for any other club in the world". It was Bobby Robson who once dreamed of bringing the young Portuguese to Newcastle as his assistant manager in 1999, with a plan to eventually hand him the reins. But fate charted a different course. Mourinho chose to launch his managerial career at Benfica in 2000, beginning a path that would lead him to Champions League glory with Porto and a glittering career across Europe’s biggest stages.
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe has showered praise on Jose Mourinho ahead of Tuesday's clash with Benfica in the Champions League at St James' Park. Howe has described the self-anointed 'Special One' as a "visionary" and has revealed his admiration for the former Chelsea and Real Madrid coach. Benfica head into the match against Newcastle in search of their first win in the competition this season.
England legend Paul Gascoigne has made the stark admission that he will never stop drinking, despite the devastating effect alcohol has had on his personal and professional life. 'Gazza', now 58 years old, enjoyed an illustrious career on the pitch for Tottenham, Lazio, Rangers and England, but was dogged by serious issues off it, often linked to the abuse of drink and drugs.
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has confirmed he spoke to Joe Willock after a bizarre viral story claimed the Magpies midfielder had been rescued from York Maze. The fake news — which started on social media before being repeated on BBC Radio One — became one of the strangest tales of the international break, prompting Howe to personally verify the truth with his player.
Ex-Newcastle midfielder Jonjo Shelvey has rejected the notion his former club can’t attract superstar players to the north east after a number of big-name summer signings elected to join rival teams in Manchester and London this summer. Shelvey believes it's a mistake to look down on the region and has spoken of the love players feel from supporters at St James’ Park.
Newcastle star Joelinton has pledged to supply the chances to make new signing Nick Woltemade a goal-scoring success for the Magpies. Toon boss Eddie Howe has endured an erratic season so far, but can move onto the top half of the table with victory over Brighton and his Brazil star is confident Woltemade will help fire them up the table.
Yoane Wissa is reportedly set to avoid a nine-month injury layoff, with Newcastle's £55 million ($74m) striker eyeing a return against former club Brentford. The 29-year-old, yet to even kick a ball for the Magpies since arriving on Tyneside, injured his knee while on international duty with DR Congo just a week after completing his move. The timing could not have been worse, as he hadn't even trained once with his new team-mates before disaster struck.
Alan Shearer believes that new Newcastle forward Yoane Wissa made a poor judgement call by turning out for DR Congo during the September international break. Wissa is yet to make his debut for the Magpies following his arrival from Brentford after he suffered a knee injury on international duty despite missing the bulk of pre-season as he sought to secure a summer switch to St. James' Park.
Brazil international Paulo Henrique joked that he is trying to help Vasco da Gama lure Tottenham and Newcastle stars to the Serie A from the Premier League. The 29-year-old winger made the light-hearted confession after Brazil’s embarrassing 3-2 defeat to Japan in Tokyo, a friendly that went from cruise control to complete calamity in the second half.
The Premier League is reportedly set to vote on proposals that could see a “salary cap” of sorts introduced at the top end of English football. An “anchoring” plan has been drawn up, which would limit spending for elite clubs, with shareholders expected to address that issue in November. Several teams, including Manchester rivals United and City, are said to oppose the concept.
Nick Woltemade returned to Newcastle on a £75 flight after scoring on international duty with Germany. The striker went from national hero to EasyJet passenger in a matter of hours after scoring the decisive goal for Germany in their 1-0 World Cup qualifying victory over Northern Ireland. Talk about a humbling journey home.
Kieran Trippier’s estranged wife Charlotte has been left terrified after seeing burglars attempt to break into her £2 million mansion. Security measures ultimately did their job, with potential intruders failing to get inside the property, but a scary ordeal has “sent chills down the spine” of a family that fear they could be targeted again. Local police forces are investigating the incident.
Stuttgart coach Sebastian Hoeness has not minced words about the club's "risky" decision to sell star striker Nick Woltemade late in the summer window without securing a replacement. The decision to sell the forward late in the summer transfer window has resulted in a drop in quality, the coach argued. With top scorer Ermedin Demirovic now sidelined by injury, Hoeness says the task has become "significantly more challenging".