da 888casino： The Magpies are well placed to keep progressing and make a strong push for silverware after some more shrewd recruitment
da bet7： Newcastle were one of the biggest success stories of the 2022-23 campaign, which saw them qualify for the Champions League for the first time in 20 years and reach the Carabao Cup final. Eddie Howe was trusted to lead an ambitious project at St. James Park by the club's Saudi-backed owners, and so far, he has proven to be exactly the right man for the job.
The question is: just how far can Howe take Newcastle? Time will tell, but it's safe to say that they're in a great position after another summer of smart business in the transfer market.
A strong start will be crucial to their chances of success in 2023-24, and the Premier League fixture list has thrown up a real baptism of fire. Newcastle will face Unai Emery's Aston Villa, reigning champions Manchester City, Liverpool and Brighton in their first four games – which they should see as an opportunity to lay down a marker.
If the Magpies' points total is in double figures by the end of that testing run, what's to stop them from emerging as dark horses for the title? Juggling Premier League and Champions League commitments will be a new challenge for Howe's side, but they have the depth to make a real impact in both competitions.
Newcastle's strongest starting XI is a match for any team on the continent, and if they can avoid any serious injuries, there is a very real possibility that their agonising 54-year wait for a major trophy will end in 2024…
GettyGK: Nick Pope
Nick Pope enjoyed an outstanding debut season at Newcastle, who snapped him up for just £10 million from Burnley last summer. The Magpies finished the campaign with the second-best defensive record in the Premier League thanks to Pope's commanding displays between the sticks, and at 31, he still has plenty of years at the top level ahead of him.
Gareth Southgate continues to favour Jordan Pickford ahead of Pope at international level, but for our money, the Newcastle man is currently the best English goalkeeper in the business.
AdvertisementGettyRB: Kieran Trippier
Right-backs don't come more reliable than Kieran Trippier in the modern game, and the 32-year-old seems to be ageing like a fine wine. The Magpies' de facto captain was one of the standout performers in Howe's dynamic, attack-minded side last season, weighing in with seven Premier League assists.
Trippier is a superb all-round full-back and he remains a master from dead ball-situations – as evidenced by his spectacular free-kick in Newcastle's famous 3-3 draw against Manchester City in August last year – while he should get some rest this season with new signing Tino Livramento drafted in from Southampton to provide high-quality back-up.
GettyCB: Fabian Schar
Fabian Schar's future at Newcastle was very much up in the air prior to Howe's appointment in November 2021, but he has worked hard to turn his career around and was a mainstay in the English manager's line up last term.
Surprisingly nimble for a big man, Schar excels when bringing the ball out of defence and has a fierce competitive edge that makes him a useful asset at both ends of the pitch.
The Switzerland international has firmly established himself as one of Newcastle's most important players, and if he can keep up the same level of performance after entering the final year of his contract, he will surely earn an extended stay on Tyneside.
GettyCB: Sven Botman
Newcastle spent £35 million ($45m) to beat AC Milan to the signing of Sven Botman in the summer of 2022, and it has proven to be bargain price. The former Lille centre-half made the transition from Ligue 1 to the Premier League seamlessly, forming a rock-solid partnership with Schar in the process.
Botman boasts a natural composure on the ball and he's dominant in the air, with few attackers ever managing to get the better of the 23-year-old in one-on-one situations. The scary thing is, Botman still has a lot more potential to unlock, and Howe is the perfect manager to bring it out of him.