When Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe turned to Harvey Barnes to take Jacob Murphy’s position on the right wing during their 3-0 victory over Benfica on Tuesday night, it was revealing. especially as the right-winger he paid £55 million to start for Newcastle this season was also on the bench.
After coming from Nottingham Forest in the summer, Anthony Elanga hasn’t exactly gotten off to the start we all might have imagined. Despite having six goals and twelve assists in all competitions the previous season, he has yet to score or assist a goal in the Premier League this year, and his final product has fallen short this year.
Tuesday night would have reminded the 23-year-old that he is currently perhaps at the bottom of the club’s four wingers after he was hooked at halftime in last weekend’s loss to Brighton.
Anthony Gordon was selected Player of the Match after scoring one goal and setting up another. Murphy scored the first goal and made a crucial play in the last three minutes.
Newcastle United star snubbed as Eddie Howe makes telling decision
Elanga was signed in as a £55 million summer acquisition from Nottingham Forest, but despite making 12 appearances—seven of which were starts—the former Manchester United academy graduate has neither scored nor assisted.
It was not surprising that Murphy was selected against Benfica following a strong 45 minutes on the South Coast after Elanga was hooked at halftime at Brighton on Saturday.
However, Howe’s choice to substitute Barnes, a well-known left-winger, for Murphy rather than Elanga was unexpected and appeared to be highly revealing. Gordon had run himself into the ground; thus, Elanga didn’t enter the game until the 83rd minute.
Howe has reaffirmed his faith in the 23-year-old and defended Elanga twice this week. You think there might be a problem with confidence. Howe stated, “I have no doubt about Anthony’s long-term qualities for the team and he is an outstanding player,” prior to the Benfica match. He is going through a period of settling in. His game needs to be slightly modified.
