Shay Given
Newcastle United have showcased an impressive home form this season, winning their last five matches at St James’ Park. However, despite their strong performances at home, the Magpies find themselves 13th in the Premier League table. Their summer recruitment included notable signings such as Nick Woltemade, Aaron Ramsdale, Jacob Ramsey, Malick Thiaw, and Yoane Wissa, which has bolstered their squad significantly. As they sit sixth in the Champions League standings and are in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup, the focus now shifts to improving their away form.
Shay Given said: “I don’t think they will. I could be wrong, but I don’t see the squad lacking in any areas. It’s just a shame he signed, then got injured on international duty because he would have been a handy option against West Ham. So I think once Wissa gets up to speed and gets match fit, then that forward area is pretty strong. When you think of the wingers they have, they’ve got four or five guys who could probably start on the wings. Then having the two strikers, I don’t think there’s any real weakness in the squad. I don’t think that you can just wait for January to try and push the team forward. The Magpies are yet to taste victory away from St James’ Park in the Premier League and that is something Given insists they have to rectify – starting with Sunday’s trip to Brentford. Brentford have always been a team that they struggled with as well, actually. So it will be a difficult game for them. It’s something that Eddie Howe and his staff will be looking to rectify as soon as possible, because I think they recruited really well in the summer and I think they’ve got a squad now that should challenge for the top four, top five, top six every single season. For a team that has ambitions to get back in the Champions League, through the Premier League, they will need to improve away from home.”
The Magpies’ challenge lies in translating their home success to their away fixtures, a task that manager Eddie Howe and his team are keen to address. Their upcoming match against Brentford is crucial, as it presents an opportunity to secure their first away victory in the Premier League this season. Given’s comments highlight the team’s potential and the importance of maintaining momentum to achieve their ambitions of returning to the Champions League. With a well-rounded squad, Newcastle is poised to compete for top positions, but consistency on the road remains a key hurdle to overcome.
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