In the week leading to the start of the World Cup, there was a report from The Telegraph’s Luke Edwards that Newcastle’s sudden surge up the Premier League table would not alter their approach to the winter window.
The report maintained that Newcastle would focus on adding strength in depth and only pursue a marquee signing should one of their top targets become available; generally a remote prospect in January.
However, Edwards did state that one position remains a priority to solidify. Eddie Howe and company will look to add a young right-back in the winter window to provide add cover for Kieran Trippier, who is currently getting plenty of action in this World Cup.
There are two clear favorites to end up at St. James’ Park as Trippier’s heir apparent – Leeds’ Cody Drameh and West Ham’s Harrison Ashby. Both are enduring difficult times at their current clubs and are expected to be jettisoned in January.
Ashby was a summer target with a deadline day move blocked by Hammers boss David Moyes. The right-back has made just three appearances this term and with his contract running out next month, has firmly rejected extending his West Ham stay.
The Scotland U21 international is almost certain to be available for a modest fee as West Ham will want something for their academy product rather than allowing him to leave for nothing in the summer. Newcastle’s interest appears likely to transcend to the winter.
Drameh’s situation at Elland Road has been similarly frustrating with first-team opportunities hard to come by. After a superb loan spell with Cardiff, the soon-to-be 21-year-old entered the summer with hopes of increased chances under Jesse Marsch.
However, his situation has deteriorated and he’s not made a matchday squad since making his lone start in the 5-2 defeat at Brentford in early September. He has since been demoted to playing with the U21s.
The Yorkshire Evening Post is reporting that Leeds will entertain offers for Drameh with Newcastle reportedly in contact with his representatives. His contract will have just 18 months left to run when the winter window opens.
It appears that Newcastle could have their pick of Ashby or Drameh, who’ll both be 21 when the window opens. With Howe short at right-back due to Emil Krafth’s knee injury and only Javier Manquillo in reserve, either would be a welcome addition to the ranks.

240 comments so far
Mister Tuff
Nov 29, 2022 at 3:28 PM
Comment #81Just doing a bit of gargling to get into fine voice for tonight -to support of lads in the battle with the Taffys.
Song I’m practicing is the song “Heart of Oak” – here are the words:-
Heart of Oak
Come, cheer up, my lads, ’tis to glory we steer,
To add something more to this wonderful year;
To honour we call you, as freemen not slaves,
For who are so free as the sons of the waves?
Heart of Oak are our ships,
Jolly Tars are our men,
We always are ready: Steady, boys, Steady!
We’ll fight and we’ll conquer again and again.
We ne’er see our foes but we wish them to stay,
They never see us but they wish us away;
If they run, why we follow, and run them ashore,
For if they won’t fight us, what can we do more?
Heart of Oak are our ships,
Jolly Tars are our men,
We always are ready: Steady, boys, Steady!
We’ll fight and we’ll conquer again and again.
They say they’ll invade us these terrible foe,
They frighten our women, our children, our beaus,
But if should their flat-bottoms, in darkness set oar,
Still Britons they’ll find to receive them on shore.
Heart of Oak are our ships,
Jolly Tars are our men,
We always are ready: Steady, boys, Steady!
We’ll fight and we’ll conquer again and again.
We still make them feel and we still make them flee,
And drub them ashore as we drub them at sea,
Then cheer up me lads with one heart let us sing,
Our soldiers and sailors, our statesmen and king.
Heart of Oak are our ships,
Jolly Tars are our men,
We always are ready: Steady, boys, Steady!
We’ll fight and we’ll conquer again and again.
Come on England.
Just got the pop corn to make now.
CLINT FLICK
Nov 29, 2022 at 3:28 PM
Comment #82How Raj
Don’t think they realize that a G is a H sound in Nederland, hey?
😉
check the toastie
Nov 29, 2022 at 3:29 PM
Comment #83I Loved David Batty. I also think Henderson has been a great player for Liverpool.
Big fan of Kalvin Phillips an all.
But hate Declan Rice. He is a centre half, has no natural engine and is permanently having a rest during games.
Forever standing around with hands on hips gasping for air.
He isnt a touch on Lobby. There is a reason why Rice isnt of interest to the like of Pep and Klopp or Arteta. Could never play a press. Not capable. Suits Moyes and Brucegates bland brand of football.
ToonDarnSarf
Nov 29, 2022 at 3:29 PM
Comment #84Check – Correct, I think Man Utd’s squad is better than ours. No, our league position is absolutely not proof that’s incorrect.
We are ahead of Man Utd because our manager has got our team playing as a unit and we have several players on top form. Man Utd are a mess.
How can you be so contradictory? You say Southgate is holding us back but don’t accept the same for Man Utd’s manager? You say the Toon’s league position is proof we have a better squad than Man Utd but seemingly ignore than Brazil are ranked number 1 in the world?
No international manager plays as many attack minded players as you’re listing without getting taken apart. This is what I mean when I say I can’t understand people like you who insist you know more than international football managers. If you know so much, why don’t you start coaching a local team and you’ll soon be snapped up my England after multiple promotions?
Raj of Hailsley
Nov 29, 2022 at 3:31 PM
Comment #85We need to win this group comfortably as I don’t think it matters which of group A we face, a comfortable win will raise spirits. We’re a much better team than the one the hapless Woy led to defeat.
ToonDarnSarf
Nov 29, 2022 at 3:32 PM
Comment #86Check – it doesn’t take much effort on Google to find some stats to contradict your opinion. Try https://sport.optus.com.au/epl/articles/os39283/epl-2022-premier-league-most-distance-covered-this-season-statistics-opta-data
Raj of Hailsley
Nov 29, 2022 at 3:33 PM
Comment #87Lost me CF.
ToonDarnSarf
Nov 29, 2022 at 3:33 PM
Comment #88Raj – Wales are a weak team. The only way they’ll cause us any trouble is with sheer passion for playing against England or if Bale decides he’s going to turn it on for a game.
CLINT FLICK
Nov 29, 2022 at 3:34 PM
Comment #89Play to your strength or try and second guess the other team…or wuss out and play to not lose, while definitely NOT playing for a tie.
G. Southgate esq.
CLINT FLICK
Nov 29, 2022 at 3:34 PM
Comment #90Gakpo/Hakpo!?!
check the toastie
Nov 29, 2022 at 3:37 PM
Comment #91TDS – Brazil, Spain and France have played 4 attackers and others that have intent.
If position in league isnt a metric of a teams strength dont know what is.
Ten haag is a top manager. He is doing his best with a strange bunch of players. Ronaldo hasnt helped like as he’s a prick.
We are better than Man Utd. Shame you cant see it. Your beloved Mancs.
Mister Tuff
Nov 29, 2022 at 3:38 PM
Comment #92Stats for Rice are for last season – he has got worse THIS season.
CLINT FLICK
Nov 29, 2022 at 3:39 PM
Comment #93Just make sure rice is properly heated up.
check the toastie
Nov 29, 2022 at 3:40 PM
Comment #94TDS – thats the thing with stats, can be used slyly.
The fact he played every minute of every game and is behind Soucek shud raise alarm bells. Neither are real runners like our Sean.
Who by the way runs the most in the prem every game he plays.
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Nov 29, 2022 at 3:42 PM
Comment #95Watching Ecuador vs Senegal. Nothing to worry facing either one of them.
check the toastie
Nov 29, 2022 at 3:42 PM
Comment #96Newcastle are the most powerful running team in the world.
This is a fact. So far this season anyways. The break is a godsend for Eddie to freshen the boys up.
ToonDarnSarf
Nov 29, 2022 at 3:42 PM
Comment #97Check – we played Kane, Sterling, Saka, and Mount in the first 2 games. They’re all attack minded players. Combine them with Trippier and Shaw being attack minded full backs, Bellingham being more attack minded than Rice plus Maguire providing a big threat at set pieces and they were pretty attack minded lineups!
Position in a league only shows form based on a limited number of games. Have we been better than Man Utd this season? Yes, the league proves that. Do Brighton have the 7th best team in England and Chelsea the 8th? Not at all, that’s just the form after 14 games.
Yes, Ronaldo is a prick. Man Utd will likely do better now he’s gone. No, I still don’t believe we have a better squad than them, I just believe we’re playing better football than them, which is more important.
Essex Geordie Bill
Nov 29, 2022 at 3:43 PM
Comment #98Mr Tuff
That song would be a tad more inspiring as our national anthem! 🙂
Mister Tuff
Nov 29, 2022 at 3:43 PM
Comment #99Beware of sly people and other tricksters.
magicmac54
Nov 29, 2022 at 3:45 PM
Comment #100Senegal just scored from a penalty
Mister Tuff
Nov 29, 2022 at 3:47 PM
Comment #101Old Bill probably would be a better anthem.
The most rousing anthem is the French “La Marseillaise” and maybe second is the American one.
ToonDarnSarf
Nov 29, 2022 at 3:48 PM
Comment #102Check – gimme a break. Most people on here were saying Sean Longstaff would never make it for us and would be shipped off to the Championship over the summer. For the record, I wasn’t one of them but I also didn’t expect him to be starting as much.
Adamn_92
Nov 29, 2022 at 3:49 PM
Comment #103I hope Kane doesn’t start later. Was getting so annoyed the other night watching him. Constantly sitting deeper and deeper, means we had nobody up top to play off of, so we went sideways and backwards. If he wants to sit deep, play him as a 10 or supporting striker and have Wilson as the main man up top. At least Wilson will run the channels giving us a forward pass.
Pointless playing slow build up play if your striker is sitting on the halfway line. You’ll never get past it. Also mad that when we did to try and press high, it was the midfielders pressing their defenders. Kane was sat deeper than our midfield doing no pressing. He’s done nothing in these first 2 games to warrant keeping his spot.
Adamn_92
Nov 29, 2022 at 3:50 PM
Comment #104The striker should initiate the press. Wilson does it and when Wood plays for us even he does it joined by Miggy usually. Then our midfield joins in if it gets past them. Mad for midfielders to be pressing higher than your lone striker.
check the toastie
Nov 29, 2022 at 3:52 PM
Comment #105Agree we played a pretty attacking team against Iran.
Actually played canny and were clinical in front of goal.
Proof is in the pudding in how we respond after the USA fiasco tonight.
Its ok to draw if you are the better team. We shud have been beaten off USA which is unacceptable based on the talent in both squads.
How do We sit in against USA with no clue to get the ball up the pitch. Brucie tactics would have at least booted it long and got us up the pitch. Big nose just kept doing the same thing. Criminal.
check the toastie
Nov 29, 2022 at 3:55 PM
Comment #106Adamn – Totally agree mate.
Gets a but of criticism Mount does but he must have done double the graft of Kane, Sterling and Rice in the last game.
Good off the ball Mount, however does falter when actually on it. Bit like Sean but a bit quicker in thought.
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Nov 29, 2022 at 3:57 PM
Comment #107Someone mentioned Nuking Eire! As if! Trident is a defensive weapon. Over the four boats 512 mutli-targetting warheads. Even 1 boat would take out any country in the world. Its MAD.
Adamn_92
Nov 29, 2022 at 3:58 PM
Comment #108Check
Yeah I’m not a huge fan of Mount but at least he’ll close down and press well.
Just don’t understand the point of Kane as a lone striker when he’s constantly coming deep. Play as a 10 if you want to be more involved. If your central midfielders and overtaking you to close down a center back, somethings wrong.
ToonDarnSarf
Nov 29, 2022 at 3:58 PM
Comment #109Top 5 ranked English central midfielders in the PL this season according to WhoScored: Mount, Rice, Willock, Elliott, JWP. Longstaff is 6th btw.
Top 5 ranked English midfielders in the PL this season for passes according to PL website: Rice, JWP, Dewsbury-Hall, Henderson, Maddison.
Top 5 ranked English midfielders in the PL this season for tackles according to PL website: Rice, Ramsey, Willock, JWP, Cook.
I can’t find distance run stats for this season (maybe they don’t release them) but have a look at this comparison tool between Rice and Longstaff: https://www.premierleague.com/stats/player-comparison?player0Id=3960&player0isActive=1&player0compSeasonId=489&player1Id=5178&player1isActive=1&player1compSeasonId=489
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Nov 29, 2022 at 3:58 PM
Comment #110did I mention I am currently working on ASW ( anti-submarine Warfare)?
CLINT FLICK
Nov 29, 2022 at 3:59 PM
Comment #111Adamn
Bang on!
CB for kane! Swap for magoo!
😉
😀
CLINT FLICK
Nov 29, 2022 at 4:00 PM
Comment #112What ya got against subs?
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Nov 29, 2022 at 4:00 PM
Comment #113No wonder the Pug is always tired.
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Nov 29, 2022 at 4:01 PM
Comment #114Quite a lot of towed array RADAR 🙂
ToonDarnSarf
Nov 29, 2022 at 4:01 PM
Comment #115Check – Yes, we were crap against the US. But Argentina and Germany actually lost games in the group stages and a big country could do out before the knock-out stages. It’s almost certainly not us! Every team can have a bad game, as you say it’s more relevant how they react to it. I was disappointed they didn’t go for it more against the US but maybe they were ok to take the draw considering how little threat the US actually showed.
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Nov 29, 2022 at 4:01 PM
Comment #116See tired. SONAR
cleveleysbob
Nov 29, 2022 at 4:02 PM
Comment #117I agree Kane is the current weak link in our attack, he’s there because historically he’s been our biggest goal threat, same reason Sterling still gets picked. Not sure either of them deserve to be currently in the line up.
Adamn_92
Nov 29, 2022 at 4:03 PM
Comment #118Clint
If he drops any deeper he’ll be in the crowd behind Pickford cheering him on.
Raj of Hailsley
Nov 29, 2022 at 4:03 PM
Comment #119CF,
Yes, the Hullit thing is a bit of a mystery.
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Nov 29, 2022 at 4:03 PM
Comment #120Play Kane as #10 and CW as #9