According to a report this week, two Newcastle United players have been left annoyed by a call from manager Eddie Howe.
Newcastle prepare for Sunderland after Barcelona humbling
Wednesday night at the Camp Nou was brutal.
Barcelona put five past Newcastle without reply in the second half, turning what had been a genuine contest into an emphatic statement from one of Europe’s great sides.
Anthony Elanga bagged twice, but it was nothing more than consolation in an 8-3 humiliation across the two legs. Howe’s team are out of the Champions League and left licking their wounds.
Now, before they even have time to process it, the Tyne-Wear derby arrives.
Sunderland come to St James’ Park on Sunday, and the pressure Howe feels to win could not be more acute.
Newcastle have not beaten Sunderland in a league game since August 2011. They have also failed to win any of their last five Premier League derbies at home.
Sunderland were victorious 1-0 against Howe’s side at the Stadium of Light in December, courtesy of a Nick Woltemade own goal.
However, there is some optimism that Sunday might finally be the day the hoodoo breaks.
Sunderland have won just three away games all season and arrive with doubts over Dan Ballard, Enzo Le Fée and goalkeeper Robin Roefs.
Newcastle’s own problems are real — Bruno Guimaraes, Lewis Miley and Fabian Schar are all out — but Sandro Tonali, who hobbled off in Barcelona, looks like he might be available.
But what is happening under the surface at Newcastle is arguably the bigger story heading into this week.
Howe decision leaves Woltemade and Wissa ‘frustrated’ at Newcastle
Indeed, TEAMtalk and journalist Graeme Bailey now claim that Yoane Wissa and Woltemade have both been left ‘frustrated’ by Howe’s decision to use Will Osula and Anthony Gordon as his central striking options across the two legs against Barcelona.
The call from Howe apparently ‘did not go down well internally’, with Wissa, and in particular Woltemade, left fuming at their lack of consistent opportunities in key matches.
That frustration carries weight.
Woltemade was brought in as part of a major attacking rebuild following Alexander Isak’s departure last summer, but the 24-year-old German has never fully nailed down the role.
His future at the club is now described as uncertain, and his situation is being watched closely as part of a wider rethink of Newcastle’s entire attacking department.
Howe knows he needs answers.
The search for a proper number nine has already begun in earnest, and TEAMtalk state that two Chelsea strikers are firmly in Newcastle’s sights for the summer. Liam Delap, who Newcastle tried to sign before he chose Stamford Bridge, remains a player they believe in hugely.
The 23-year-old has struggled for regular game time at Chelsea and could be made available if the Blues strengthen further up front, while Nicolas Jackson is the other name on the shortlist.
It is understood the club do not plan to sign both, viewing them as alternatives rather than complements.
But one thing is clear: the striker issue is a priority, and the dressing room unrest over squad selection means the summer could be an intriguing one.
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