Shields Gazette

Newcastle United Under-21s grabbed a 2-1 National League Cup win at Hartlepool United last night.

Summer signing Kyran Thompson went from brushing shoulders with the Newcastle United first-team on Monday night to scoring for the Under-21s on Tuesday night.

The 17-year-old was part of the travelling squad for the Premier League defeat at Coventry City on Monday night but wasn’t named on the bench in the match. But he was straight into the starting line-up for Newcastle Under-21s less than 24 hours later in their 2-1 National League Cup win at Hartlepool United.

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While the win was ultimately a consolation for the Young Magpies as they are unable to progress out of the group, Thompson’s start to life on Tyneside continues to catch the eye.

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The teenager joined Newcastle from Arsenal in the summer with the initial plan of joining up with the Under-18s squad. But since his arrival, he has broken into the Under-21s set-up and impressed while also putting himself on Matthias Jaissle’s first-team radar. Last month, he was named on the bench for the Premier League win over Hull City and would have been named on the bench again at Coventry had any players dropped out due to injury.

Thompson has also since signed his first professional contract at Newcastle.

At Hartlepool, the young winger gave the visitors an early lead with a close-range finish from Johnny Emerson’s ball. Jack Nolan equalised for Hartlepool midway through the first half before Thompson claimed his second of the evening with his deflected strike finding the net.

The goal was later awarded as a Charlie Penman own goal, but Thompson’s clear role in it was there for all 107 of the travelling Newcastle support at Victoria Park to see.

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Kyran Thompson - NUFC is a great project’

Newcastle fought off stiff competition to land Thompson in the summer, including Arsenal’s rivals Tottenham Hotspur. But the winger was convinced by the project and pathway presented to him on Tyneside.

"I want to keep smashing it with the Under-21s and keep starting, getting goals and assists," Thompson said. "I want to try and break into the first team.

"Newcastle is a great project with playing young players. Once I get my opportunity, it's about taking it with both hands and showing everyone what I can do."

Former Newcastle United star Kieran Trippier has named his all-time XI in a piece with Wolves social media outlets.

Kieran Trippier has delivered a snub to a number of his former Newcastle United team-mates after naming an all-time XI based on players he has played alongside during his career.

After starring for the likes of Tottenham Hotspur, Atletico Madrid and England throughout his career, Trippier certainly has some highly-talented options at his disposal - but the veteran full-back opted against naming any of the players he featured alongside during his successful stint on Tyneside.

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There was little surprise to discover Trippier relied heavily on his team-mates from Atletico after he won the La Liga title during his final full season playing under Diego Simeone. He selected Jan Oblak as his goalkeeper and Koke and Luis Suarez also made the cut in midfield. England star John Stones was selected in the heart of Trippier’s defence and former Spurs team-mates Kyle Walker, Harry Kane, Moussa Dembele, Heung-min Son and Jan Vertonghen were also named. Surprisingly, the likes of Bruno Guimaraes, Lewis Hall and Alexander Isak all missed out - but Trippier did take one of his former United team-mates under consideration before opting against naming him on the right wing.

In a piece with Wolves official social media outlets, Trippier said: “Right wing, I’m going to go with Marcos Llorente. We had a great relationship. I could have gone with Miggy [Almiron] to be fair. I’ll go Marcos because I won the title with him.”

There was one player with Newcastle links in Trippier’s side and that came at left-back - although it was a player that was not really remembered for his time on Tyneside. The former Magpies captain opted to select former Spurs and England team-mate Danny Rose, who 11 appearances for Newcastle during a short and unsuccessful loan spell on Tyneside, on the left-hand side of his back four.

Kieran Trippier’s All-Time XI: Jan Oblak (Atletico Madrid), Kyle Walker (Spurs and England), Jan Verthonghen (Spurs), John Stones (England), Danny Rose (Spurs and England), Moussa Dembele (Spurs), Koke (Atletico Madrid), Marcos Llorente (Atletico Madrid), Heung-min Son (Spurs), Harry Kane (Spurs and England), Luis Suarez (Atletico Madrid)

Newcastle United sold Sandro Tonali to Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur for £100million during the summer transfer window.

Chris Waddle believes Newcastle United will be ‘rubbing their hands’ after banking £100million for Sandro Tonali.

The Italian midfielder became the Magpies’ second-most expensive ever sale when he joined Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the summer.

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Tonali spent three years at St James’ Park after joining from AC Milan for £52million in the summer of 2023, but only really played in two seasons after being hit with a 10-month betting ban just eight games into his Toon career.

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He resumed his career at the beginning of the 2024-25 campaign and helped Newcastle win the Carabao Cup and qualify for the Champions League. However, he was in no mood to stick around following last season’s disappointing 12th-place finish in the Premier League.

Yet it’s been a tough start to life in North London for Tonali, with Spurs currently sitting bottom of the table after failing to win any of their opening five matches. That included a 2-0 defeat to Newcastle at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Sandro Tonali mocked over £100m Newcastle United sale

Newcastle also sold Anthony Gordon to Barcelona for £69million and Bruno Guimaraes to Arsenal for £75million, but it is the Tonali deal Waddle believes supporters will be enjoying the most.

“Newcastle fans will be loving it,” Waddle told Betpack. “You know what fans are like, they'll be cheering and thinking, ‘To get a hundred million pounds for him, we're rubbing our hands.’

“Because he hasn't done anything at Tottenham so far and he just looks like an average player there.

“So I just think Newcastle now will be thinking it's unbelievable money for all the players they've sold. Look at Anthony Gordon... all right, he's in and out of the team at Barcelona, he starts some, he doesn't start others. He's going to get a lot of the ball and a lot of time because Barcelona dominate football matches, and he probably will have a good season.

“But Tonali is at Tottenham now, and given the amount of money Newcastle got for these players, Newcastle will be quite happy, especially with the Tonali one, because he's not started well at Tottenham.”

Sandro Tonali on his £100m price tag

Tonali is currently on international duty with Italy and during a recent interview, he was asked about his price tag. However, batted off the question.

“It doesn't bother me,” Tonali said on his price tag, as quoted by Calciomercato. “I haven't followed social media or newspapers in years, and that makes me feel really light-hearted

"Physically, I'm 100% now,” he added. “The pain I was having has resolved. I'm ready to do my part.

"Football is very strange. In 10 days, everything can change from negative to positive. I would classify our current situation as a club as negative in terms of results but positive for football. We're having fun and creating chances. If you don't score in football, you lose.

"We're not in the doldrums. We're alive and well, and we're positive. We know the team is very strong. Here in the national team, it's different. It's a very new and young group; we've practically never played together. We just have to wait."

Sandro Tonali has struggled for form at Tottenham Hotspur since leaving Newcastle United.

Former Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali insists his £100million price tag ‘doesn’t bother’ him.

Tonali became Tottenham Hotspur’s record signing in the summer after joining from Newcastle, and their poor start to the new Premier League campaign has seen the Italian come under fire.

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Spurs sit bottom of the table with just two points from their opening five games. Tonali has started each of those matches, including their 2-0 defeat to Newcastle at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last month.

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Sandro Tonali on his price tag & fitness after £100m NUFC exit

The 26-year-old had a slight injury over the summer, which he says has impacted his form. Now declaring himself “100%” fit, Tonali is “ready” to help Tottenham climb the table.

"It doesn't bother me,” Tonali said on his price tag, as quoted by Calciomercato. “I haven't followed social media or newspapers in years, and that makes me feel really light-hearted.”

"Physically, I'm 100% now,” he added. “The pain I was having has resolved. I'm ready to do my part.

“It doesn't matter if I play as a midfielder or a playmaker, especially since the roles can vary depending on the match. Sometimes one role is better, sometimes another. The important thing is to have a great game.

"Football is very strange. In 10 days, everything can change from negative to positive. I would classify our current situation as a club as negative in terms of results but positive for football. We're having fun and creating chances. If you don't score in football, you lose.

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"We're not in the doldrums. We're alive and well, and we're positive. We know the team is very strong. Here in the national team, it's different. It's a very new and young group; we've practically never played together. We just have to wait."

In an interview before his reunion with Newcastle, Tonali said he wanted “the best deal” for the club “because they deserve everything” after supporting him through his 10-month betting ban.

The Magpies used the money to sign three new central midfielders, bringing in Nico Gonzalez, Sean Steur and Aladji Bamba from Manchester City, Ajax and Monaco, respectively, for a combined £103million.

Newcastle United sold Sandro Tonali to Tottenham Hotspur for £100million in the summer.

Robert De Zerbi believes Tottenham Hotspur are “very lucky” to have signed Sandro Tonali from Newcastle United.

Tonali joined Spurs for a club-record £100million in the summer, but both the midfielder and the club have endured a difficult start to the campaign, sitting bottom of the Premier League table on two points after the opening five matches.

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De Zerbi’s side went through their first four games without scoring before Saturday’s 3-2 defeat at home to Aston Villa. They have also suffered losses to Brentford and Newcastle, while their two draws came against Nottingham Forest and Everton.

That is despite Spurs spending more than £300million on 10 summer signings. Criticism has been aimed at those new recruits, including Tonali, but De Zerbi has leapt to his fellow Italian’s defence.

Roberto De Zerbi - ‘We are lucky to have Sandro Tonali with us’

"He’s a good guy, he’s working very hard and I’m happy to have Sandro,” said De Zerbi. “We are lucky to have Sandro with us.

"The adaptation has not been so fast but it can happen, also in Milan in the first season, ok he was younger, but it is not so easy to change city, to change everything for the players.

“Sometimes the adaptation is immediate, sometimes you need more time. I think also Tonali against Everton played well.

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‌"He can play in both situations [as a six or eight] because his physical characteristics are to play box-to-box but he started his career as a playmaker. He’s good enough with the ball, he's good enough without the ball. He's a complete midfielder, like [Lucas] Bergvall, like Mateus Fernandes.

“They are very close, not as characteristics, but these three players all have characteristics of the modern midfielder."

Tonali became the Magpies’ second-most expensive ever sale after Alexander Isak, who joined Liverpool for £130million last summer. Tonali, like Isak, was given a frosty reception during United’s visit to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last month.

The 26-year-old joined Newcastle from AC Milan for £55million in 2023 but made just eight appearances before serving a 10-month ban for illegal betting offences.

He resumed playing at the beginning of the 2024-25 campaign and helped Newcastle to end their 56-year trophy drought by winning the Carabao Cup, as well as qualify for the Champions League, before jumping ship following last season’s 12th-place finish in the Premier League.

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After leaving St James’ Park, Tonali said: “I want to start by thanking the club. To the people who work every day and nobody sees at the training ground, everyone who welcomed me and made me feel at home from the very first day. Thank you to the staff and my teammates for believing in me and helping me grow.

“A special mention to the gaffer, Eddie, who’s been a real guiding figure and who always had my back throughout this journey. But above all, I want to speak directly to the fans. When things were hard for me, you were there. Not for one day did I feel alone. I felt it every time I was at St James’ Park. That’s something I will carry with me for the rest of my life.”

Newcastle United came out on the right side of a VAR decision in their recent win at Tottenham Hotspur.

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The Premier League Key Match Incident (KMI) Panel have released details behind the decision-making process that led to Newcastle United’s first goal in their recent win at Tottenham Hotspur being awarded after a VAR review.

The Magpies picked up their first win of the season in North London and earned their first maximum under new head coach Matthias Jaissle as goals from Anthony Elanga and Yoane Wissa saw off Roberto De Zerbi’s men. However, it was Elanga’s opening goal that drew attention from VAR official Darren England after United full-back Amar Dedic strayed close to being offside during the buildup.

The Bosnia international got on the end of a stunning crossfield pass from fellow new boy Nico Gonzalez before heading the ball into Elanga’s path to allow the winger to turn and fire beyond Spurs keeper Antonin Kinsky. The goal was initially awarded by referee Peter Bankes and no offside flag was raised by his assistant - and their decision was checked by the VAR officials.

The KMI Panel have since reviewed the decision itself and the process undertaken by the officials involved and explained why ‘thicker lines’ were used to assess whether Dedic was offside as he challenged for the ball with Spurs full-back Andrew Robertson.

A statement released on the Premier League website read: “From the 2021/22 season, the offside process was amended and thicker lines were introduced when assessing offside decisions. This was done to give the benefit of the doubt to the attacker and to prevent marginal, or "toenail", offsides.

“When the Premier League began using semi-automated offside technology (SAOT) towards the end of the 2024/25 season, the system continued to apply the existing thicker lines, maintaining both consistency and the integrity of the competition. This came into play when Dedic was played onside by Robertson in the build-up to Newcastle's first goal. The use of the thicker lines meant that Dedic was in an onside position, and the goal scored by Elanga was correctly allowed to stand.”

It was a busy summer in the transfer market for Newcastle United as they added several new faces to their squad.

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It was another summer of change at Newcastle United as the Magpies squad underwent something of an overhaul in the aftermath of a disappointing season.

There were big-name departures as Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali secured respective moves to Barcelona and Tottenham Hotspur before club captain Bruno Guimaraes joined Premier League champions Arsenal. That came after the likes of Kieran Trippier, Emil Krafth and Matt Targett all departed when their contracts came to an end as the United squad was stripped of a whole host of experienced players.

After what felt like a slow start to recruitment, the Magpies landed a deal for Reims’ highly-rated goalkeeper Ewen Jaouen before Hoffenheim winger Bazoumana Toure was secured in a reported £43m agreement. That was followed by a double deal for two highly rated midfielders as around £57m was handed over to Ajax and Monaco to secure young duo Sean Steur and Aladji Bamba.

The arrival of new head coach Matthias Jaissle did not disrupt the incomings as goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek and full-back Amar Dedic were landed before a much-needed dose of midfield experience arrived in the form of Manchester City star Nico Gonzalez. Another big deal was confirmed on deadline day when United snapped up Lille’s versatile forward Matias Fernandez-Pardo in a £51m deal.

But after such a hectic summer transfer window, how much did Newcastle spend compared to other clubs in European football’s top five leagues? We take a look with figures from the experts at TransferMarkt.

Biggest summer transfer window spends by clubs in European football’s top five leagues

Anthony Elanga and Yoane Wissa scored as Newcastle United claimed a 2-0 win at Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday evening.

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Former Tottenham Hotspur player and manager Tim Sherwood believes his old club will be ‘ridiculed’ if they continue to struggle after they fell to defeats against Brentford and Newcastle United in the opening week of the Premier League season.

After an eye-watering transfer spend, much was expected of Roberto De Zerbi’s side during the early weeks of the campaign - but they suffered a 3-0 defeat at Brentford on the opening day of the campaign before Newcastle earned a fourth win in five games at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday evening to continue what has been a bright start to the season for Matthias Jaissle.

Anthony Elanga scored for the second consecutive game to open the scoring in North London before Yoane Wissa’s acrobatic effort ensured the Magpies made it four points from their first two games under their new head coach. By contrast, Spurs are now sitting at the foot of the Premier League table after failing to secure a solitary point or score a goal during the early weeks of the season. Sherwood believes there were improvements during the defeat against Newcastle - but insisted his old club must get off the mark soon to ensure they do not become the subject of further ridicule.

He told Sky Sports News: “There was an improvement - but it’s laughable me saying that there was an improvement. You get beat two-nil at home to Newcastle, who have had more changes than Tottenham probably with their best players going out of the door. Tottenham haven’t had their best players going out of the door, just players and they have brought in so called better ones, top players as they announcer would tell you there, ‘we’ve signed top players’.

“They need to start proving that and on the back of a disastrous result against Brentford, there was an improvement, there were positives there. As a manager, you can’t keep talking about the positives and then excuses of why they aren’t playing well. You keep losing football matches and even your own fans stop listening to you and you just get ridiculed on shows like this.”

Yoane Wissa impressed once again as Newcastle United claimed a 2-0 win at Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday evening.

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Alan Shearer wants Yoane Wissa to ‘feel the love’ of Newcastle United fans after he made a bright start to his first full season at St James Park.

The DR Congo international struggled to make an impact throughout last season as an injury he suffered just days after completed a big money move to Tyneside hampered his attempts to shine. However, an impressive World Cup campaign triggered an upturn in form and confidence as Wissa scored three goals during DR Congo’s historic run to the round of 32 before they suffered a dramatic 3-2 defeat against England.

Wissa looked lively during United’s pre-season campaign and produced arguably his best performance in a black and white shirt in last weekend’s 2-2 draw with Liverpool as he provided a constant threat in a number ten role before reverting to the lead role in attack following an injury to Will Osula. The former Brentford forward was named as lead striker in Matthias Jaissle’s starting eleven for Saturday evening’s visit to Tottenham Hotspur and grabbed his first goal of the season with a clever finish from close range that ensured the German claimed his first win as Magpies head coach.

The DR Congo international latched on to a Nick Woltemade header before flicking the ball beyond Spurs keeper Antonin Kinsky to add to an opener from Anthony Elanga and give United yet another away win against the North London outfit.

Former Magpies captain Shearer admitted Wissa had found life difficult during his first season with Newcastle after he was brought in to replace Alexander Isak - but insisted the versatile forward deserves ‘incredible credit’ for showing signs of rediscovering his Brentford form during the first week of the new season.

‘I think he was superb’ - Alan Shearer on Yoane Wissa

He told Premier League Productions: “It was really tough and I guess there were some low moments because you read and you feel all of the negativity that goes with it. You’re not fit, when you are fit you’re getting a chance and you didn’t take that chance, which is very difficult. Then you go through pre-season, you come back and you’re hoping and praying you stay fit. There’s no doubt there is a player in there, we saw it at Brentford and that’s one of the reasons Newcastle invested very, very heavily in him - and it was a lot of money. It’s why a lot of the negativity is around because you pay the money and it doesn’t work in the first season.

Shearer continued: “But you have to give him incredible credit because, mentally, to go through what he did, and to come back and be really sharp, and he was brilliant last Sunday against Liverpool. He started off in the ten role, Osula went off, and he had to go in the nine role. I think he was superb last weekend and he was against and I hope for his sake, and his family’s sake, he can stay fit and keep putting in those performances and feel the love of those Newcastle fans.”

Nico Gonzalez made his Newcastle United debut in the 2-0 win away to Tottenham Hotspur.

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Nico Gonzalez announced himself in Newcastle United colours as an impressive debut ended in a 2-0 win at Tottenham Hotspur.

The Spanish midfielder had just two training sessions with his new teammates after joining from Manchester City for £50million on Wednesday night but was thrown straight into the starting XI.

And the 24-year-old played a major role in the Magpies’ opener, spraying a 60-yard pass into the path of Amar Dedic, who nodded the ball into Anthony Elanga’s path before the winger’s shot went in via the inside of the post.

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Matthias Jaissle delighted with Nico Gonzalez’s debut

“Great debut, not easy for a player just joining after a transfer,” Newcastle boss Matthias Jaissle told NewcastleWorld.

“You know also there's a human being behind if you leave a club and if you're joining a new club, therefore I really, really think he did amazing and we're looking forward to seeing more from him.”

Gonzalez was replaced by Sean Steur in the 71st minute and had barely sat down on the bench when Yoane Wissa added a second to secure United’s first Premier League win of the season .

Jaissle added: “He showed that already today, that he can play both [long and short passes]. It is important that we are versatile, otherwise it would be too easy for our opponents to read what we are doing.

“So that's what I said also previously, that in the second half we found a good balance between staying in possession, also dominating the game in that phase, but also threatening them if there is any space behind.

“Nico was a big element in that, but also then Sean Steur when he jumped in and all the other substitutions, they were straight away in the game, really, really reliable.

“We could count on them, and that was the reason why we were winning that game today.”

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Nico Gonzalez v Sandro Tonali

Gonzalez came up against one of the players he was signed to replace in Sandro Tonali, who joined Spurs for £100million earlier this summer. The Italian was booed by the travelling Newcastle fans and jeered when he was substituted in the closing stages.

However, Jaissle would not be drawn into commenting on Tonali’s performance when asked about the midfield battle between the pair.

“It's not my part to make comparisons,” he said. “For me, it was just a really good debut from Nico, really well done for the first match, and I'm looking forward to seeing more from him.

“It would not be smart if I'm telling him right now and then in the media that that was already his full potential.”