After finishing fourth last season, Newcastle United find themselves ninth at the start of 2024 and are no longer competing in Europe. Despite these setbacks, there are three compelling reasons why the club can still have a memorable year.
Firstly, the Saudi owners of Newcastle have committed to finding ways to continuously invest in the club. While profit and sustainability rules prevent instant success through vast financial injections, the club’s owners intend to gradually inject money through sponsorships and commercial partnerships. Newcastle’s new £40 million-per-year kit deal with Adidas, which replaces their previous deal with Castore worth £8 million per year, is a promising sign of more lucrative deals to come. With time, Newcastle will emerge as one of Europe’s wealthiest clubs, significantly increasing their chances of winning silverware.
Secondly, the return of key players Harvey Barnes and Joe Willock will provide a significant boost to Newcastle. Barnes, a £45 million summer signing from Leicester City, has been sidelined since September due to a foot injury. His absence has impacted Newcastle’s attacking output, and his return will bolster their goal-scoring capabilities. Similarly, Willock, a former Arsenal player, brings pace and goalscoring ability from midfield. Their combined presence, alongside the regained fitness of other players like Sven Botman, Sean Longstaff, and Joelinton, will enhance Newcastle’s overall strength and competitiveness.
Lastly, the easing of the fixture load will greatly benefit Newcastle. The club’s return to Europe placed additional demands on their squad and affected their domestic campaign. However, their elimination from European competitions means they will have fewer games, allowing players more time to recover and the manager, Eddie Howe, more time to work on tactics and address performance issues. Newcastle’s style of high-intensity, high-energy football, which was successful last season, can now be reinstated, boding well for their performance both at home and away.
While Newcastle faces a challenging run of fixtures in January, there is optimism about the club’s future. The commitment of the Saudi owners to gradually invest in the club, the return of key players from injury, and an easing fixture load provide a strong foundation for Newcastle to potentially have a memorable 2024. Although the immediate future may have some obstacles, the long-term prospects look promising for the club.
