Growing pains at Newcastle – Time to change our 2023/24 expectations?

All summer, I was expecting growing pains to be the theme of the 2023/24 season. We have a squad of inexperienced players at the top level and the strength in depth isn’t there. Last season, we were lucky with injuries and managed to keep the majority of the squad fit for large periods. It did feel like we were always missing a player or two, but we never suffered a total injury crisis.

That was always unlikely to be the case this season with the additional matches that come with the Champions League. It hasn’t helped us that we have drawn PSG, Borussia Dortmund, AC Milan, Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea in cup competitions. We have played more ‘big’ matches than any other team in the Premier League and that comes at a cost.

Our style of play is already one of the most intense in the league and it is impossible to deliver it to a high standard every three days without rotation. At the beginning of the season, Eddie Howe was able to do that. Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson rotated. Harvey Barnes and Jacob Murphy both came in for matches. It wasn’t perfect, but the manager could change his line-up.

Now, that is impossible. The club are down to just 14 fit senior outfield players and a few of those (Ritchie, Krafth, Dummett) will not have been pencilled in for regular playing time this season. Lewis Miley is going to be fast-tracked into a more senior role, which could do more harm than good in the short term. Meanwhile, Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento will need to be used in different positions throughout the next six weeks to help cover for others who are absent.

The defeat to Bournemouth was spoken about as an unrecognisable performance. This might become a trend over the coming weeks, as we will be playing with a threadbare squad and the number of minutes each player needs to play will reduce their own output. It is difficult for those that are fit to deliver a high level of performance every few days.

There was criticism of the players on the pitch last weekend. Supporters were still expectant, despite the number of players missing. For me, there was a simple explanation for the performance and result – injuries. There is no need to analyse the game or look deeper than that. Howe was without arguably seven of his strongest eleven, while an eighth limped off in the first half. No Premier League team could cope with that. Early pacesetters Tottenham were missing four starters in their game against Wolves and they were thoroughly outplayed.

With news of Wilson’s injury, coupled with the rumours that Sven Botman may be missing until 2024, it is conceivable that only two or three players return before the turn of the year. If that is the case, there is a high chance that the injury crisis gets worse, rather than better.

The club will likely act in January and strengthen the squad with two or three more additions to ensure there is more strength in depth. However, the damage could be done before that. A few weeks ago, it looked like we would challenge for the top four, progress in the Champions League and have a good chance of reaching another Carabao Cup final.

The outlook is very different now. Expectations need to be reset. The most important thing is for the club to remain competitive and the key to that may be focusing on one competition. The Premier League is the most important. We need to ensure we remain in European competition in 2024/25. Rather than eyeing another top four finish, the club may accept the Europa League as being the aim.

As long as Kieran Trippier, Bruno Guimaraes and a returning Alexander Isak stay fit over the next six weeks, we will be competitive. That said, there needs to be more grace given to the manager and playing squad, as the number of long term injuries would be difficult for any club to deal with.