Eddie Howe’s response to arguably his biggest crisis as Newcastle United manager was to lean on players he trusts – but that will not be a way out forever.
While Howe is now set to stay at Newcastle United, that didn’t always appear to be the case.
Indeed, during a miserable four-game losing streak in the Premier League, major doubts were cast as to whether Howe was still the right man for the job.
That run was finally ended against Brighton as Howe leaned heavily upon the old guard in front of chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan. An understandable move, but not a card he can use for much longer.
Howe’s response was to lean on players he trusts to end crisis
The inclusions of Dan Burn, Joe Willock, Jacob Murphy and Nick Pope continue to divide opinion among the fanbase.
Still, Howe talked about selecting players he trusts the most after his controversial team selection against Brighton, one that did ultimately yield a much-needed win.
These are players that have given the club so much over the years but, sadly, nothing lasts forever.
If this season has taught us anything, it’s clear that Newcastle United need to rebuild their squad in the summer of 2026.
The aforementioned players cannot go on forever. Newcastle need to change, and it is surely time to move at least some of the old guard on this summer.
Some of Howe’s favourite players will surely leave this summer
Howe has often been accused of being too loyal to players, something he has consistently brushed off.
Several players are expected to leave Newcastle this summer, and the likes of Willock could reportedly be one.
In an ideal world, Newcastle would sign significant upgrades on the likes of Murphy and Pope too. Not another Anthony Elanga or Aaron Ramsdale, genuine replacements to usher in the next version of Newcastle United.
This season, the Newcastle squad have looked bereft of ideas. Things have gone stale, and there need to be consequences.
While it made complete sense that Howe would lean so heavily on the old guard in the context of a crisis, it’s not a plan that can realistically be relied upon next season.