Here are your Newcastle United evening headlines on Wednesday, December 21.
Sven Botman's fury Eddie Howe has loved and Newcastle star's perfect response to being dropped
When Newcastle United last met Bournemouth, in the Premier League, Sven Botman could not even get on the pitch. Eddie Howe even highlighted Dan Burn's 'leadership skills and experience' when the Magpies boss explained his decision to effectively drop the defender back in September.
However, 94 days on, the Dutchman was one of the first names on the team sheet against the same opposition - and with good reason following his display in the Magpies' last 16 win on Tuesday night. Botman made more interceptions than any other Newcastle player, including one crucial intervention to cut out Philip Billing's cross to Solanke late on. Botman also won two-thirds of his aerial duels and lost possession on just a couple of occasions. To put that final figure into perspective, late substitutes Chris Wood and Jonjo Shelvey, who admittedly play further forward, also lost the ball twice despite being on the field for a shorter period of time.
On the ball, six of Botman's seven long passes found a team-mate and a whopping 96% of the defender's passes were accurate, which was the best return of any starter on the field. These were not just Hollywood passes, either.
Eddie Howe explains Newcastle absences in Bournemouth win as January reality emerges
Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe may be looking to trim his squad in January after leaving a handful of first-team players out of the Carabao Cup clash with Bournemouth on Tuesday. The Magpies progressed to the quarter-final of the competition after seeing off their Premier League counterparts after an Adam Smith own goal in the second-half.
Howe went full strength at St James' Park, naming all five players who recently featured at the World Cup in his starting XI. As such, a number of first-team stars who have impressed in recent weeks were either benched or dropped from the squad entirely.
The likes of Elliot Anderson, Loris Karius, Ryan Fraser and Jamal Lewis all failed to make the bench, leaving question marks over their immediate future with the club ahead of the winter transfer window. Speaking after the game, Howe admitted some absences were injury-related, while others were dropped despite being fully fit.
O'Neil fumes, Bruno's connection and Joelinton leads - Newcastle moments you may have missed
Newcastle United progressed to the last eight of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday evening, beating Bournemouth 1-0 at St James' Park. Adam Smith's own goal was enough to see the Magpies' through after the Cherries proved tough to break down on Tyneside.
Eddie Howe named a strong Newcastle XI for the cup clash, sending a clear signal the north east outfit plan to go far in the tournament. The draw for the quarter-final takes place later this week as fans begin to dream of a trip to Wembley.
Here are the moments you may have missed from Newcastle's 1-0 win over Bournemouth.
Allan Saint-Maximin underlines ingredients for Newcastle United to end 54-year trophy drought
Allan Saint-Maximin says that Newcastle United should only focus on themselves as the League Cup reaches the quarter-final stage.
Newcastle are in the last eight for the first time since 2020/21 but Man City or Liverpool will be in the hat for the quarters as well as Premier League opposition such as Leicester, Southampton and Wolves. The draw takes place on Thursday night after the cup cracker between City and the Reds.
When asked on a preference for the last eight, Saint-Maximin told Chronicle Live: "We don't care. We only look at us, we are going to do everything we can to play against anybody and we just need to focus on ourselves and go by game by game. If we do that we will as many games as possible."
Every Premier League side's Christmas schedule ranked and how Newcastle compare
Newcastle United marked their return to competitive action with a seventh straight win in all competitions with a narrow Carabao Cup victory over Bournemouth. An own-goal from Adam Smith was enough to book the Magpies a place in the last eight.
Eddie Howe's side will now focus on the resumption of the Premier League, with an away clash to come on Boxing Day against Leicester City. The Magpies head coach named a strong eleven for the Carabao Cup tie including the five players to return from the World Cup, but will likely have to rotate his squad over the coming weeks.
Newcastle could move into second place with a victory at the King Power Stadium, although champions Manchester City will hold two games in hand to overturn a one-point deficit. Howe's side will then host Leeds United on New Year's Eve, before beginning 2023 with a top of the table clash at Arsenal.
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Sven Botman's fury Eddie Howe has loved and Newcastle star's perfect response to being dropped
Eddie Howe and Jason Tindall praised for Newcastle transfer personality test amid top-six call
Eddie Howe explains Newcastle absences in Bournemouth win as January reality emerges
O'Neil fumes, Bruno's connection and Joelinton leads - Newcastle moments you may have missed
Allan Saint-Maximin underlines ingredients for Newcastle United to end 54-year trophy drought
