Eddie Howe was asked about some of his players that have been the subject of transfer speculation in recent weeks. It’s been reported that both Ryan Fraser and Karl Darlow are free to leave this month with the pair both keen on more playing time.
Fraser reportedly asked to leave in the summer but the inability to add a wide player scuttled any chance of his leaving. With the winter window open, the 28-year-old could be allowed to depart to clear room for new arrivals.
Fraser has not made a matchday squad in the league since Boxing Day leading to speculation he will be moved on this month. Howe was asked about Fraser’s recent absences during this morning’s press conference and provided the following:
“No, he’s not injured. He’s training. He’s just got to keep training well. Keep training hard.
“He’s a valued member of the squad. I know Ryan better than anybody and I know what he’s capable of.
“I’d love to see him back in a Newcastle shirt.”
There seems to be little outside interest in a permanent move for Fraser. Though there are reportedly a number of clubs, both Premier League and Championship, that could be interested in a loan.
Fraser has made just 8 appearances this season with the emergence of Miguel Almiron on the right wing limiting his chances. Jacob Murphy has also blossomed as an impact substitute dropping Fraser down the pecking order.
Karl Darlow has been linked with a loan move to Hull City. The Tigers are looking to add competition for Matt Ingram with Chelsea loanee Nathan Baxter back at Stamford Bridge rehabbing an elbow injury.
Howe was asked about Darlow’s future. He didn’t rule out a move for the long-serving 32-year-old but suggested nothing was imminent saying:
“There’ll be no one going out before tomorrow. We assess the squad on a daily basis and depending on what’s happening, there’s lots of noise and lots of things going on, but we certainly want to keep the squad intact.”
Darlow is likely to leave this month with Loris Karius extended until the summer. It will be interesting to see who the backup is tomorrow with Martin Dubravka cup-tied. Karius has not made a matchday squad since before the World Cup break.
The head coach was also asked about the rumor that Turkish club Besiktas was close to signing Jonjo Shelvey. Howe refuted that claim stating the following:
“I’ve been surprised at all the speculation.
“I’ve got no idea where that has come from. It’s certainly not come from us. Jonjo is a very valued member of the squad.”


92 comments so far
Dubai Micky
Jan 23, 2023 at 1:24 PM
Comment #41https://theathletic.com/4113299/2023/01/23/newcastle-palace-missing-big-chances/
(if you don’t pay a quid a month you’re seriously missing out on some of the best Sports News out there).
Flying high but missing big chances: Do Newcastle need to worry in Champions League chase?
By Jacob Whitehead
According to Opta, Newcastle have missed the third-most big chances in the league (36), behind only Liverpool (44) and Manchester City (37). Eddie Howe’s side have also hit the woodwork 12 times, level with Liverpool for most in the division.
Ap
Jan 23, 2023 at 1:24 PM
Comment #42Raj from hailsley causing trouble. Really? 😀
Novocastrian66
Jan 23, 2023 at 1:24 PM
Comment #43Jazzyp; I’m quite enjoying being an armchair supporter. I have no desire to start attending games for a number of reasons. I’m delighted the club has a clear agenda and ambitions that match the quality of our fanbase.
Essex Geordie Bill
Jan 23, 2023 at 1:25 PM
Comment #44Blimey, I can’t say I thought much of him as a player, but that is going a tad far.
Ap
Jan 23, 2023 at 1:25 PM
Comment #45If i got a penny everytime i read that i could buy pif 😀
Essex Geordie Bill
Jan 23, 2023 at 1:26 PM
Comment #46Wow, I’d bet that Murphy is near the top of the hit the woodwork list.
jazzyp
Jan 23, 2023 at 1:27 PM
Comment #47Novo
Ya never gonna step foot inside the ground again mate?Admittedly we seem to be ontv a lot more ,But that feeling on match day when ya walking up to the stadium is priceless
ToonDarnSarf
Jan 23, 2023 at 1:28 PM
Comment #48IrishRob – I think producing ID creates a problem for some people. Some don’t even have photo ID and others might forget it. Plus, it slows the entry process down significantly. I’m not in favour of that.
I do think people should be more responsible though. Plenty of people complain about things but when it comes to doing something about it, they don’t bother. I’ve no problem with someone having a season ticket, despite only being about to go to some games, and then letting various friends, family members, and colleagues have the ticket though. It’s only an issue if you find out the person next to you has bought the ticket for a lot of money.
At the end of the day, there will always be some people who complain…
Novocastrian66
Jan 23, 2023 at 1:28 PM
Comment #49DM; it would be interesting to know what those numbers are in terms of percentage of overall chances.
Essex Geordie Bill
Jan 23, 2023 at 1:28 PM
Comment #50Took a while to catch up with ticket gate, think I’ll have a snooze!
Ap
Jan 23, 2023 at 1:31 PM
Comment #51In this day and age who doesnt have id? Shirley everyone has a passport or driving licence? Even provisional driving licence
Not another deJong
Jan 23, 2023 at 1:33 PM
Comment #52Ticket gate is a revolving issue
Ap
Jan 23, 2023 at 1:34 PM
Comment #53Newcastle match fans need to up their game. They only make noise before kick off. Arsenal at home were cheering their team on every attack when we played them. Newcastle fans are too quiet. Cheer team on throughout
Ap
Jan 23, 2023 at 1:35 PM
Comment #54Who sings up the premier league we go while we are drawing and dont look like we can go above 3rd
Dean0
Jan 23, 2023 at 1:35 PM
Comment #55At this rate we won’t be getting anyone through the door this window, which will be a disaster, we have NO Strength in depth and if we have a couple of injuries we will be dropping down the league.
Ap
Jan 23, 2023 at 1:36 PM
Comment #56Who sings callum wilson how you score that goal when he comes off the pitch and hasnt scored
Novocastrian66
Jan 23, 2023 at 1:36 PM
Comment #57Jazzyp; I would not say I will never go again but I’m not that bothered about attending.
I have done everything following Newcastle except see us win a trophy. It is time for younger people to pick up the gauntlet of attending matches.
I don’t want to be an old gadgee sitting in the ground denying younger people the opportunity to support their club.
It does not spoil my joy when we win and it won’t spoil my joy when we win a trophy.
If we should struggle and end up back in the doldrums I’d probably return.
Perhaps I’m a masochist.
IrishRob
Jan 23, 2023 at 1:37 PM
Comment #58OK jail if that’s the case then that’s the case, but I’ve also clearly said multiple times that I could be wrong.
Yet you came on in almost disgust trying to insinuate something that just isn’t the case. So why do it like, why write your message like that when you’re smart enough to grasp the English language?
Ap
Jan 23, 2023 at 1:38 PM
Comment #59True deano who is going to become available near end? Top 6 wont deal with us. We might not sign anyone like last couple of deadline day
ToonDarnSarf
Jan 23, 2023 at 1:39 PM
Comment #60Ap – sometimes elderly people and people who have some mental health issues don’t have a passport or driving licence. It’s the same issue with voting, requiring ID will exclude some people from certain groups from voting.
Ap
Jan 23, 2023 at 1:40 PM
Comment #61Cant old people get a citizen card?
Wor B
Jan 23, 2023 at 1:40 PM
Comment #62Apparently the new driving licence is like a plastic credit card, and has your photo on it.
Whatever will they think of next?
Not another deJong
Jan 23, 2023 at 1:40 PM
Comment #63GUARDIAN – Howe’s Magpies are built on solid foundations
“When you spend millions, you move faster to where you want to be, so, of course, they’re doing really well,” was Patrick Vieira’s assessment of Newcastle’s rapid progress up the table this season after Crystal Palace’s third 0-0 draw against them in 141 days. But even after forking out £85m – the same as Manchester United paid for Harry Maguire – to recruit the Premier League’s meanest defence, to have conceded only 11 goals at this stage of the season is still an astonishing achievement for Eddie Howe’s side. While Chelsea’s Premier League record of 15 from 2004/5 may be beyond them with 18 matches still to play, Howe is hoping to add forward power to his squad to build on their solid foundations. “We’re keen to do business and keen to bring a player that can hopefully help us but as we know in this window, there are no guarantees that will happen,” he said. Ed Aarons
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I am not too critical of Viera’s statement, as it is a widely accepted concept in football. They have done well against us this season but may not get the same kind of result next season, as we we go into third gear.
Dean0
Jan 23, 2023 at 1:42 PM
Comment #64AP- KETS
I’ve noticed that, every single game at st James park its the same. there is a fantastic atmosphere before kick off, then a massive cheer from the fans when its kicked off then it goes deadly quiet for most of the match unless we are winning.
The fans should be cheering and supporting the team from kick off not just before kick off. it helps the players play better and motivates them, Wor flags need to do something to get the fans cheering throughout the match and keep the atmosphere going. the atmosphere is flat in st James park its pathetic at times.
at away fans our fans are the best in the league, always vocal, loud and passionate, I wish the same could be said for home games sometimes.
Ap
Jan 23, 2023 at 1:42 PM
Comment #65Worb driving licence has always been like that
IrishRob
Jan 23, 2023 at 1:43 PM
Comment #66Tds I’m not in favour of any of that either tbh I’m just saying that’s probably the only way around it.
It’s a hard one to police and stop, but a system set up to where fans have the responsibility of helping eradicate the problem by keeping a close eye on whos next to them every match and reporting it for further investigation could legitimately be a way of at least stopping some of the re-sellers.
But even that could be a logistical nightmare depending on how big the problem is.
It’s a tough one to combat for sure.
Davas
Jan 23, 2023 at 1:45 PM
Comment #67I lost my passport and didn’t renew it for ages as I had no need to plus I haven’t got one of those new fangled photo driving licences, just an old one held together with sellotape.
Novocastrian66
Jan 23, 2023 at 1:46 PM
Comment #68Football supporters should not have to carry ID. I wouldn’t want to take my passport to a football match. My driving licence is a paper one.
Thatcher wanted to introduce compulsory ID for football supporters in the 1980’s. Luton Town ran a trial and every supporter had to have an ID and it was a disaster.
Can you imagine the chaos of checking everyone’s ID before gaining admission to the ground?
Wor B
Jan 23, 2023 at 1:47 PM
Comment #69Haha
Ap, are you my teenage daughter?
Transfer Sage
Jan 23, 2023 at 1:49 PM
Comment #70TDS / AP
On ticketing, I think the fairest solution is having a certain percentage allocated to those who have a set amount of loyalty points and above. Anyone over that gets effectively a pre-sale covering a higher percentage of tickets, allowing then to only buy a single ticket. It may sound harsh only giving one, but only one person will have those loyalty points, not that persons friend or brother, so in my view they shouldn’t get the benefit of their friend/family’s loyalty.
The rest go into a general sale where anyone can bid to get say up to 4 tickets to be able to take family/friends with them.
I’d also do it as a ballot system for high demand cup games, as opposed to first come first served. Removes the issue of overwhelming servers and them crashing, plus allows those who maybe work shifts or cant access the site when working to be entered into the ballot.
Not another deJong
Jan 23, 2023 at 1:49 PM
Comment #71Comment by: BlondeOnion
I’m sure that Patrick Viera could’ve attracted the likes of Dan Burn, Fabien Schar, Nick Pope and perhaps even Kieran Trippier to Selhurst Park 12 months ago. They weren’t exactly the world’s most wanted defensive unit when Newcastle United picked them up for the going rate last year. Yes, they look quite the part now, so apart from the (38) ‘millions’ spent on those aforementioned – plus a Dutch Maldini under everyone’s radar apart from them and Maldini – what has been the biggest influence on Newcastle’s relative success over the past 12 months?
Howe do you think they’ve managed to create the meanest defence without being able to attract the €80m defenders we regularly see the top clubs recruit?
——————————————————
paulsmith288 (response to BlondeOnion)
Trippers 300K a week dwarves pretty much all defenders on the planet.
IrishRob
Jan 23, 2023 at 1:51 PM
Comment #72I think Clare Balding is probably going to end o here isn’t he. Very tellingly Howe when asked about him today said no comment.
He always says it as it is when there is no truth in a potential signing. Only times I remember him saying no comment to questions about signings is when we are close to signing them.
G
Jan 23, 2023 at 1:52 PM
Comment #73Photo ID to enter a match? What’s next, biometrics? I still know loads of people whom refuse to use google as they feel they’re being watched. Don’t get me started on those whom believe vaccinations are tracking devices?
Not another deJong
Jan 23, 2023 at 1:55 PM
Comment #74Lunch break over
https://www.nufc.co.uk/nufc-tv/latest-videos/howe-pre-southampton-a-carabao-cup-media-briefing-22-23/
Howe: “I am not a big speech (prior to match) type of person, all that needs to be said is communicated in the week (in training) so the lads have clear heads and can play their normal game”.
Ap
Jan 23, 2023 at 2:03 PM
Comment #75Worb you wish 😀
dazzler
Jan 23, 2023 at 2:04 PM
Comment #76Do people actually believe Trips is on £300k per week? Fairly sure he’s on a third of that. Nowt dumber than a footy fan at times.
Dubai Micky
Jan 23, 2023 at 2:05 PM
Comment #77Novo
Going into this weekend’s matches, Newcastle had scored 34.6 per cent of their big chances this season, the seventh-worst in the league. Palace were top in that metric, scoring with half of theirs. Despite dominating the game, the fear was always that Palace would take their one big chance.
(Worst is the red bindippers with only 26.2%)
Novocastrian66
Jan 23, 2023 at 2:11 PM
Comment #78I’m not a fan of Anthony Gordon. He is an objectionable individual, who lacks professionalism, and he will not fit into our team’s bonhomie.
Wor B
Jan 23, 2023 at 2:13 PM
Comment #79I’m thinking of starting a paper driving licence owners club.
£10 entry fee to the usual address (I’m saving up to pay a £5M tax bill I forgot about)
Novocastrian66
Jan 23, 2023 at 2:15 PM
Comment #80DM; Thanks for that, it basically backs up what I’ve been saying that we need to brush up on our finishing.
We’re getting in to good positions and blowing our chances. Of course keepers could have a blinder which is fair enough.
I think we mostly mess up.