Newcastle return to action after the international break this Saturday away at Fulham - but will they be back with a bang? Winless in the Premier League since the opening day of the season, Eddie Howe’s men can at least lean on having lost just once since then.
But to get back on the victory trail straight after a fortnight off? To do that, Howe’s men will have to break a long-term – and very bad – habit. For the stats show that United have a recent history of sleepwalking back into action after a couple of weeks off rather than hitting the ground running.
It is a not-so-magnificent seven games since Newcastle last won their first game back after international duty. That victory came in September 2020, when debut boys Callum Wilson and Jeff Hendrick scored in a 2-0 triumph at West Ham.
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But it has been a severe case of post-international jet lag for Newcastle – and particularly for their defence - since then. For the Magpies have conceded a whopping 16 goals in their last five first games back from a national team shift.
April 3, 2022, Tottenham 5-1 Newcastle
Howe’s darkest hour – other than the FA Cup defeat against Cambridge – came on their last first outing after an international break. Fabian Schar opened the scoring with a clever free kick, as Newcastle threatened to maintain the momentum they arrived with at the Tottenham Hostpur Stadium.
But an almost immediate Tottenham equaliser before the break set up Antonio Conte’s free-flowing attacking unit to cut through the Magpies at will in the second half.
November 20, 2021, Newcastle 3-3 Brentford
Having been appointed during the pause for international matches, Howe watched his first game as Newcastle manager from his sofa, having contracted Covid. But while he saw his new charges score three goals for the first time since the start of season, the defensive frailties evident under Steve Bruce also remained crystal clear.
Jamaal Lascelles was both hero and villain, scoring at both ends in a see-saw game also featuring goals from Joelinton and Alain Saint-Maximin.
October 17, 2021, Newcastle 2-3 Tottenham
Another post-international challenge when United failed to earn their Spurs. Despite going ahead early on through Callum Wilson, Steve Bruce’s side shipped three goals in less than half an hour to go in at the break behind.
Despite Eric Dier’s late own goal, Jonjo Shelvey’s reckless red card piled on the agony for Bruce, who was put out of his misery three days later when Newcastle’s new owners sacked him.
September 11, 2021, Man Utd 4-1 Newcastle
The Magpies visited Manchester United as supposed sacrificial lambs as Cristiano Ronaldo made his Old Trafford homecoming. And Steve Bruce’s men stuck to the script, gifting the Portuguese legend two goals, as Bruno Fernandes and Jesse Lingard also beat Freddie Woodman.
Javier Manquillo’s goal was scant consolation for a United team with one Premier League point from their opening four games.
April 4, 2021, Newcastle 2-2 Tottenham
Hopes were high on Tyneside, as an under-pressure Jose Mourinho brought a misfiring Spurs side north. But it required on-loan Joe Willock’s late equaliser to earn United a point after a Harry Kane double had cancelled out Joelinton’s opener.
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