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Tottenham Hotspur v Newcastle United: Eddie Howe’s predicted XI for Premier League clash with Spurs at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

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Eddie Howe has a number of big decisions to make when he names his Newcastle United starting XI for their clash against Tottenham Hotspur tonight.

The Magpies were beaten 3-2 by Brentford on Saturday as their winless Premier League run extended to four matches. Anything but a win tonight would see them go five without a victory in the league and ensure they end the night in the bottom half of the table.

The Magpies have won just twice away from home in the league all season and were denied a win against Spurs in the reverse fixture by a stoppage time overhead kick by Cristian Romero, despite having twice taken the lead at St James’ Park on that night.

Here, we take a look at the Newcastle United starting XI that Howe could name for his side’s clash against Tottenham Hotspur tonight. Do you agree with our picks? Follow us on our social media channels and let us know your thoughts there.

Newcastle United predicted XI v Tottenham Hotspur

Nick Pope

Pope was beaten three times at the weekend, with the third of those strikes being one that he may look back on with regret that he didn’t deal with it better. Newcastle United and Pope are in desperate need of a clean sheet on the road.

Lewis Miley

Whilst it may be a risk to throw Miley into the starting XI considering his recent injury issues, Howe may feel he must do that in order to rest Kieran Trippier.

Malick Thiaw

Thiaw’s long run of successive starts is likely to continue in north London.

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Dan Burn

It was a surprise to see Burn named on the bench at the weekend, although Sven Botman did very well up against Igor Thiago. The Dutchman may be offered a rest against Spurs, giving Burn an opportunity to start again.

Lewis Hall

With a lack of options at left-back, Hall will likely be asked to go again tonight.

Bruno Guimaraes

Guimaraes started on Saturday and was able to come through the game unscathed following a four-match injury absence. He needs to be on top form if Newcastle want to leave the capital with three points.

Sandro Tonali

There has been a lot of talk surrounding Tonali of late, but much of that has been centred on off the pitch matters. The Italian will be hoping to silence that chatter with a good performance against Spurs.

Jacob Ramsey

Ramsey was another surprising omission from Saturday’s starting XI, but he may get his chance to impress once again at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Anthony Elanga

Jacob Murphy did very little to show why he should be in Howe’s starting XI tonight. Elanga could be the beneficiary of that this evening.

Nick Woltemade

Woltemade desperately needs a goal and there is no better time for him to get that than against Spurs tonight. The German international looked tidy on Saturday, without threatening the Brentford goalkeeper.

Harvey Barnes

Barnes’ scintillating form at the beginning of the year has dipped in recent weeks. With Anthony Gordon doubtful to feature in the capital, it could be Barnes who is picked to start on the left-wing by Howe.

Tottenham Hotspur v Newcastle United: Spurs defender Cristian Romero has been banned from featuring against Eddie Howe’s side on Tuesday night.

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Tottenham Hotspur defender Cristian Romero will miss Spurs’ clash with Newcastle United on Tuesday night after being sent-off against Manchester United on Saturday.

Romero was shown a straight red card by Michael Oliver for catching Casemiro with his studs. That sending off meant that Spurs were forced to play an hour with ten men before they eventually succumbed to a 2-0 defeat at Old Trafford.

Oliver’s decision to show Romero a red card was checked by VAR, as the technology swiftly concurred with the call. In analysing the decision for Sky Sports Ref Watch, former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher said: “A really poor challenge. It's a really good spot by the referee. He recognises it and deals with it.”

Former Cardiff City striker Jay Bothroyd added: “Michael Oliver was straight on the scene, he was very decisive. Romero has gone with a straight leg. A lot of players realise they're in a bad position and take their leg away, sometimes you still catch them, but Romero intentionally stuck his leg out to hurt someone.

“He goes down like he's been kicked to try and con the referee. It's a straight red.

“He needs to be leading by example, doing things like this costs his team even more.”

Bothroyd then questioned Thomas Frank’s decision to keep the Argentine as his captain: “As a captain, you should be leading by example on and off the field.

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“Romero is still one of the best defenders in the Premier League. He's fast, strong, scores goals in both boxes, but he's become a liability.

“I'm surprised Thomas Frank is sticking by him, I have to commend him for that because I would strip him of the captaincy.”

The Premier League Match Centre also explained the decision on X, writing: ‘#MUNTOT – 29’ The referee’s call of red card to Romero for serious foul play was checked and confirmed by VAR – with it deemed that the challenge was made with excessive force and endangered an opponent.’

Romero will serve the first game of a four match ban on Tuesday night when Spurs host Newcastle United on Tuesday night, with the Argentine also set to miss the north London derby against Arsenal and matches against Fulham and Crystal Palace. Saturday’s dismissal was the second time this season that Romero had been shown a red card and thus he has had an additional match added to his suspension.

Newcastle United & Tottenham Hotspur injury news

Romero’s suspension couldn’t have come at a worse time for Frank as he is set to be without ten players in all for the visit of Newcastle United. None of James Maddison, Rodrigo Bentancur, Mohammed Kudus, Lucas Bergvall, Pedro Porro, Richarlison, Kevin Danso, Ben Davies or Dejan Kulusevski are expected to feature against the Magpies at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Newcastle United, meanwhile, also have a fair amount of injury concerns to deal with of their own and have four players: Fabian Schar, Emil Krafth, Tino Livramento and Joelinton all sidelined this week.

Eddie Howe, though, did reveal that both Lewis Miley and Anthony Gordon could be fit enough to feature having both missed their defeat against Brentford on Sunday through injury.

Tottenham Hotspur v Newcastle United: Injury news affecting Thomas Frank and Eddie Howe’s sides ahead of their Premier League clash at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

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Both Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur head into Tuesday night’s Premier League meeting desperate for a win to end an alarming slide in results.

Spurs are yet to win a home game in 2026 and were beaten at Old Trafford by Michael Carrick’s resurgent Manchester United on Saturday lunchtime. To compound matters from that defeat, they lost the services of both Cristian Romero and Destiny Udogie through suspension and injury issues respectively.

Newcastle United, meanwhile, were beaten at home by Brentford to conclude a damaging week for Eddie Howe and his team. Three defeats in a row, against Liverpool, Manchester City and then the Bees resulted in them being dumped out of the Carabao Cup and ending the weekend in the bottom half of the Premier League table.

A win, therefore, is vital for both sides on Tuesday night. However, both managers have a number of injury concerns to deal with ahead of naming their teams at 6:15pm on Tuesday evening.

Here, we take a look at the latest injury news from both camps ahead of Newcastle United’s clash with Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.

Tottenham Hotspur injury and suspension news v Newcastle United

James Maddison - out

Maddison has been ruled-out for the remainder of the season after suffering an ACL injury in pre-season. The former Leicester City man picked up the injury during Spurs’ 1-1 draw with Newcastle United in South Korea in August.

Rodrigo Bentancur - out

Bentancur will not feature against the Magpies on Tuesday night as he remains sidelined with a thigh injury.

Mohammed Kudus - out

Spurs are hopeful of having Kudus back in contention to play following next month’s international break. He won’t feature at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Tuesday night.

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Lucas Bergvall - out

Bergvall has an ankle injury and is one of a number of Spurs players that will be out of action for the foreseeable future.

Ben Davies - out

An ankle injury will keep Davies sidelined against the Magpies.

Richarlison - out

Frank revealed that it would be a ‘dream’ to see the Brazilian return to action when Spurs face Arsenal in the north London derby later this month. He won’t feature against Newcastle United.

Pedro Porro - out

Frank is also hopeful of having Porro back for their clash with the Gunners. He won’t feature against Newcastle United either.

Kevin Danso - out

A foot injury will keep Danso out of action this week.

Dejan Kulusevski - out

Kulusevski hasn’t featured for Spurs since their Europa League final win over Manchester United in May. The Swedish international winger remains sidelined and won’t feature against the Magpies.

Cristian Romero - out

Romero was shown a straight red card against Manchester United on Saturday and will serve the first game of a four-match ban on Tuesday night.

Destiny Udogie - out

Frank has confirmed that Udogie has sustained a hamstring injury and will be out of action for around a month. He won’t feature against Newcastle United.

Newcastle United injury news v Tottenham Hotspur

Fabian Schar - out

Schar suffered an ankle ligament injury against Leeds United last month and has been ruled-out of action for the foreseeable future.

Emil Krafth - out

Krafth will not feature against Brentford as he continues to be sidelined by a knee injury.

Tino Livramento - out

Livramento suffered a hamstring injury last month. An initial return date in March has been placed on Livramento’s return to first-team action, meaning he will miss the clash against Thomas Frank’s side.

Joelinton - out

Joelinton has been ruled out of action for the foreseeable future with a groin injury. Howe confirmed that the Brazilian would be out for ‘weeks rather than months’. He won’t feature against Spurs.

Lewis Miley - doubt

Miley has been omitted from Howe’s last two matchday squads. However, Howe did not rule him out of action ahead of the trip to Spurs.

Anthony Gordon - doubt

Gordon suffered a suspected hamstring injury at the Etihad Stadium last week, although initial response to that injury suggests it is not as bad as first feared. He didn’t feature against Brentford but could be available on Tuesday night.

Newcastle United latest news: Spurs have been rocked by yet another injury ahead of their Premier League meeting at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

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Thomas Frank has confirmed that his side have suffered yet another injury blow ahead of their clash with Newcastle United in the Premier League.

Spurs will be without left-back Destiny Udogie for Tuesday night’s game, with the Italian international also set to miss the north London derby in less than a fortnight’s time. Udogie started Spurs’ 2-0 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford on Saturday lunchtime, but was withdrawn before the hour mark.

Concern that the defender had suffered an injury was confirmed by Frank on Tuesday, as he revealed that he would be without Udogie for a number of weeks: “Unfortunately Destiny has a hamstring injury,” Frank told the media ahead of his side’s clash with the Magpies. “He will be out for 4-5 weeks.”

Udogie’s injury compounded a miserable afternoon for Spurs in Salford as they also lost club captain Cristian Romero to suspension. The Argentine was sent off for catching Casemiro with his studs, forcing his teammates to play with a man fewer than the Red Devils for over an hour.

Romero has been handed a four-match ban by the FA following that red card. That means he will miss Tuesday night’s game, the clash with Arsenal on Sunday 22 February as well as Spurs’ games against Fulham and Crystal Palace.

Frank also confirmed that Kevin Danso will also miss Spurs’ game against Newcastle United on Tuesday night: “Kevin Danso will be weeks. Kevin is with a medical consultant,” Frank added. “It is going forward but still weeks before he is available.”

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There was one piece of good news for Spurs, though, as it was confirmed that Djed Spence would be fit enough to feature on Tuesday.

However, despite Spence’s return to fitness, Frank will still be without a host of key first-team players when they square-off against Eddie Howe’s side. None of James Maddison, Rodrigo Bentancur, Mohammed Kudus, Lucas Bergvall, Pedro Porro, Richarlison, Kevin Danso, Ben Davies or Dejan Kulusevski are expected to feature against the Magpies at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Are Tottenham Hotspur in a relegation battle?

Spurs will head into their clash with Newcastle United sat 15th in the Premier League table, just six points above the division’s relegation zone. Spurs could even end the night just three points above the relegation zone if West Ham beat Manchester United at the London Stadium in Tuesday night’s later kick-off.

Asked if his side are in a relegation battle, Frank said: “There is no doubt we are desperate to win games. Desperate.

“I am focusing on Newcastle tomorrow. That is a great opportunity ahead of us against a good team. That is the main thing.”

Asked to expand on those comments, Frank added: “I could have worded it differently, maybe. But I do think there's something, it should be that feeling.

“It should be that feeling when we haven't won enough. So the way I work, we're all different, is that if you haven't won enough, then you do everything you can, and you actually do a little bit more, you work a little bit harder, you just know that's the way out of a tough moment. So that's what I expect from the players, and I actually think that's what I see from the players.”

Newcastle United latest news: Tottenham Hotspur will be without Cristian Romero when they face Newcastle United on Tuesday night.

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Tottenham Hotspur will be without their captain, Cristian Romero, when they host Newcastle United in the Premier League on Tuesday night.

A whole round of Premier League matches will be played in midweek, with the Magpies heading to the capital to take on a Thomas Frank side desperate for a win. Spurs were beaten 2-0 away at Old Trafford on Saturday, with Bryan Mbeumo and Bruno Fernandes scoring late on in both halves to secure another victory for Michael Carrick’s resurgent Red Devils.

For Tottenham, though, that defeat was their tenth defeat in the Premier League this season and one that left them in the bottom half of the table. That defeat also came at a greater expense than just losing points, as it also resulted in them losing Romero for not just their clash against the Magpies, but three further games.

Romero was sent off in the first-half for catching Casemiro with his studs as the pair went for a fifty-fifty tackle. Michael Oliver showed Romero a straight red card with VAR checking and confirming his decision at Stockley Park.

Spurs were level with their opponents at the time of Romero’s dismissal in the 29th minute, but wouldn’t be able to hold on until the half-time whistle as Mbeumo netted just nine minutes later. Fernandes’ goal nine minutes from time in the second half sealed Spurs’ defeat.

A straight red card for Romero usually brings with it a three-match suspension. That will certainly rule him out of Tuesday night’s game with Newcastle United, as well as their north London derby against Arsenal on February 22 and their clash with Fulham a week later.

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However, because Saturday’s red card was the Argentine’s second dismissal of the season, having been shown two yellow cards during their defeat to Liverpool in December, he will also be suspended for Spurs’ clash with Crystal Palace on Thursday 5 March.

Not having Romero available to him on Tuesday will be a huge blow for Frank as it was the 27-year-old that netted twice in Spurs’ 2-2 draw with the Magpies at St James’ Park during the reverse fixture in December. Romero’s brace included a stoppage time overhead kick which denied Newcastle United all three points having twice led through Bruno Guimaraes and Anthony Gordon.

Tottenham Hotspur injury news v Newcastle United

Romero’s absence will add yet another selection dilemma for Frank to consider amid an injury crisis at the club. James Maddison has been ruled-out for the rest of the season with an ACL injury, whilst Mohammed Kudus and Rodrigo Bentancur aren’t expected back until the final few weeks of the campaign.

Ankle injuries will also keep Lucas Bergvall and Ben Davies out of action for the foreseeable future, with neither expected to return to the team until after the March international break. Richarlison and Pedro Porro are both closing in on a return to action, but that will not likely come on Tuesday night, with a return before the north London derby on February 22 most likely for the pair. Kevin Danso and Dejan Kulusevski are also out.

Premier League transfers: Brennan Johnson has joined Crystal Palace from Tottenham Hotspur for a club-record £35million deal.

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Crystal Palace have completed a club-record £35million transfer in the second day of the winter transfer window.

The winger made a big impact last season, scoring 18 goals in all competitions, including the winner in the 2025 UEFA Cup Final win over Manchester United. But after struggling for form during the first half of the 2025/26 campaign, Johnson has been sold on to Palace at a loss.

Crystal Palace new signing set to be unveiled at St James’ Park v NUFC

BBC Sport have claimed that the transfer is complete and Johnson is expected to be included in Palace’s squad to face Newcastle at St James’ Park on Sunday (3pm kick-off).

It will be Johnson’s third visit to St James’ Park already this season having started for Spurs in the 2-0 Carabao Cup defeat and 2-2 Premier League draw against The Magpies.

As such, he’s a player Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe will be well prepared for should he get on the pitch this weekend.

“He's a very dynamic athletic player,” Howe said. “He will add, and his career suggests this, goals. He’s a goal-scoring wide man, which are very difficult to find, and a definite transition threat. So we’ll be aware of that.”

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Former Newcastle United transfer target set for visit

Newcastle tried and failed to sign Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi in the summer of 2024 in what ended up being a fruitless but extended transfer saga.

Since then, Guehi has faced The Magpies twice and, somewhat ironically, scored two own goals in favour of the side he could have been playing for had an agreement been reached over a transfer fee.

Guehi then came close to joining Liverpool for a cut-price deal on transfer deadline day this year with his contract set to expire at the end of the season. But with a potential exit for Guehi falling through once again, the England defender is set to become a sought-after free agent in the summer.

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Newcastle have a long-standing interest in the 25-year-old but face very strong competition this summer. The Magpies distanced themselves from pursuing Guehi earlier this year once Liverpool’s interest became clear.

“I'm reluctant to talk about other clubs’ players out of respect for the player and for his football club, but you've asked me a direct question,” Howe said when asked about Guehi. “Having watched Crystal Palace a lot in the build-up to the game, he's in really good form and he’s playing ever so well. He's a key player for them.”

Guehi remaining at Palace opposed to joining Newcastle ultimately worked out for all parties in the short term. The Eagles skipper captained the side to a first ever FA Cup, a subsequent Community Sheild win and European qualification while Newcastle ended a 70-year domestic trophy drought by winning the Carabao Cup while also qualifying for the Champions League.

Newcastle United latest news: Alexander Isak won’t feature against his former side after breaking his leg during Liverpool’s win over Spurs on Saturday.

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Arne Slot has brandished Micky Van de Ven’s tackle on Alexander Isak as ‘reckless’ following confirmation that the Swedish international faces a number of months on the sidelines.

Isak netted just his second Premier League goal of the season against Tottenham Hotspur at the weekend, but was injured following a desperate tackle by Van de Ven to stop him netting. Isak was unable to continue following the tackle and was replaced by Slot.

It has since been confirmed that Isak has suffered a broken leg and that he will be out for a ‘couple of months’ as he recovers from that injury. That timeframe on his injury means that Isak will miss the reunion with Newcastle United at Anfield next month.

Eddie Howe’s side will travel to Merseyside on the final day of January for a Premier League clash just days after the two clubs play their final Champions League league phase games. However, Isak, who missed the reverse fixture at St James’ Park after refusing to play for the Magpies, will not feature against his former employers.

Arne Slot slams ‘reckless’ Micky Van de Ven

Slot spoke about Isak’s injury for the first time on Tuesday when he was asked for an update on the striker ahead of their clash with Wolves at the weekend. The Dutchman said: “It's going to be a long injury, for a couple of months. It's a big disappointment for him and, as a result, for us.

“This was for me a reckless challenge. I've said a lot about the the tackle of Xavi Simons, which for me was completely unintentional. I don't think you will ever get an injury out of a tackle like that.

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“The tackle of Van de Ven - if you make that tackle 10 times - I think 10 times there is a serious chance that a player gets a serious injury.”

Isak has since undergone surgery on the injury and will now begin the long road to recovery. The injury will certainly rule him out of action over the next couple of months for Liverpool and Isak now faces a race against time to be fit for Sweden’s crucial World Cup qualifying matches in March.

Sweden finished bottom of their World Cup qualifying group as Isak went scoreless during that qualifying campaign having struggled for match fitness for much of the campaign. On top of Isak’s injury issues, the reigning Premier League champions have a number of concerns to deal with ahead of their clash with Wolves at the weekend with Joe Gomez and Wataru Endo also sidelined through injury.

There are also doubts surrounding the fitness of Conor Bradley and Cody Gakpo with Slot having just 14 fit outfield players to pick from when his side host Wolves at Anfield on Saturday afternoon (3pm kick-off).

"Most of the injuries we have are not due to overloading, if you look at Isak and same with Wata [Endo],” Slot continued. “But one or two might be due to overloading - Cody Gakpo with his muscle injury and Joe Gomez.”

Alexander Isak injury news: The Liverpool striker scored before being forced off with an injury in a 2-1 win at Tottenham Hotspur.

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Alexander Isak’s start to life at Liverpool following his £130million arrival from Newcastle United took another unfortunate turn this weekend.

Isak opened the scoring in Liverpool’s 2-1 win at Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday evening with only his second Premier League goal for the club in 10 appearances since becoming the most expensive transfer the division has ever seen.

The Swede scored 27 goals in all competitions for Newcastle last season before forcing a move away from the club in the summer.

Since then, he has struggled for the form and fitness that saw him establish himself as one of the most feared strikers in the Premier League. Over three months into his Liverpool career, he has still scored more goals against the club than he has for it.

And to make matters worse, the striker could now be facing a spell on the sidelines after being forced off with an injury. Isak needed several minutes of treatment on the pitch following a challenge from Spurs’ Micky van de Ven before needing assistance has he was taken off the pitch.

Official Alexander Isak injury update

After the match, Liverpool head coach Arne Slot suggested Isak’s injury doesn’t look good but refrained from jumping to any medical conclusions over the issue.

“I don't have any news on him, but if a player scores, then gets injured and then doesn't come back on the pitch and doesn't try to come back,” Slot said. “Which Conor Bradley, for example, did, but I had to take him off as well because he couldn't go on, but if a player doesn't even try to come back that's usually not a good thing.

“But I cannot say anything more than that, that is just [a] gut feeling. Nothing medical to say about it.”

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Alexander Isak ACL fears

Isak being in some pain with and being unable to continue sparked fears that the striker could have picked up a serious anterior cruciate ligament injury. Such an injury would rule the player out for the remainder of the season.

Recent ACL injuries for Newcastle have seen Sven Botman out for 10 months, Emil Krafth out for 14 and Jamaal Lascelles yet to start a competitive game since suffering such an injury in March 2024.

Given the significant fee invested in Isak, Liverpool will be desperate for the 26-year-old to avoid such an issue.

Injury expert Physio Scout posted an analysis and potential prognosis for Isak’s potential problem, playing down an ACL issue.

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A post on X wrote: “Scissor-tackle type mechanism typically brings concern for a high/medial ankle sprain, potentially due to forced ankle eversion and rotation. Fibula (lower leg bone) also is a common injury site due to direct contact.

“These types of tackles can also place stress on the knee structures due to forced valgus, particularly the MCL. ACL is also vulnerable, but less likely.

“Expected Recovery Times: If high ankle sprain: 8-10 weeks. If medial ankle sprain: 2-6 weeks. If MCL: depending on grade, can range from 2-12 weeks. More likely scenario here is a high ankle sprain, X-rays and further scans will be needed to clear any fracture sites.”

Either way, it doesn’t sound too good for the Liverpool striker as Newcastle watch on looking to make the most of their new £120million strike force of Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa now the latter is back from injury.

Newcastle United 2-2 Tottenham Hotspur: There was late drama at St James’ Park as Eddie Howe’s side conceded a last-minute equaliser.

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Newcastle United conceded a 95th-minute equaliser against Tottenham Hotspur after taking the lead just nine minutes earlier.

The Magpies thought they were on course to victory after Anthony Gordon slotted away a 86th-minute penalty that was controversially awarded by VAR. Bruno Guimaraes had given the home side the lead at St James’ Park before Cristian Romero headed Spurs level.

Romero then popped up deep in stoppage time with an overhead kick which ended up bouncing through a body of players and into the goal. For Tottenham, justice for the penalty; for Newcastle, more points dropped late on.

Romero’s equaliser alone cost Newcastle two points but also was the difference between the side ending the day seventh with a win and 13th with a draw.

When that fact was put to Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe after the game, he responded: “Not sure I needed to hear that!

“The league is so tight, we know that and that's why three consecutive wins was our target tonight and we were a few minutes from getting it but I suppose that's the Premier League, that's what makes it the league that it is, that's what makes football so dramatic and why we're all obsessed by it so you have to take the rough with the smooth.

“We've felt a bit of pain in these moments before this season, we've got to try and get on the right side of them.”

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Newcastle United’s unwanted record

Newcastle have conceded five goals in the 90th minute or later this season while also dropping a league high 11 points from winning positions.

Newcastle conceded late winners against Liverpool and Arsenal at St James’ Park this season and now a late equaliser against Spurs.

“Well, I think you can look back at each moment and sort of identify a mistake or a part of the team not doing its job,” Howe reflected. “So the job for us is to obviously coach the team to be better in those situations and that's what we'll endeavour to do but sometimes it becomes psychological, sometimes it becomes a fear of conceding and then you do concede, there's so much that goes into it but we've got to find ways when we're in front to be better and usually our best form of defence is to attack and I encourage us to do that all the time.

“Sometimes you have to accept that you're not in that position in the game to do it and you just have to see it out and defend better. I think today was one of those moments and we didn't do it.”

In contrast, The Magpies have not picked up a single point after going behind in a game or scored a goal in stoppage time.

“I think it's definitely a failing, you can't sit here and go, I can't sit here and go, everything's okay in that respect, it's happened too many times this season, that doesn't mean we can't figure it out and put it right very quickly,” Howe added.

“Today's really a set piece, it's a moment and those moments happen in football, they've been on the other end of it at times and individual errors usually from set plays hurt you and that's what happened.”

Black Cats purring ahead of derby clash

Newcastle travel to Sunderland next week for the hotly anticipated Tyne-Wear derby clash at the Stadium of Light.

Sunderland have made a strong start on their return to the Premier League, characterised by coming from behind and scoring late goals.

While Newcastle have not picked up any points from losing positions this season, Sunderland have secured a league high 12 points while their stoppage time goals also rank among the highest in the division with four.

The contrasting stats between the two clubs will certainly give Sunderland some confidence heading into the derby as they look to avoid a repeat of the 3-0 defeat from the previous meeting between the sides at the Stadium of Light in 2024.

Newcastle United latest news: The Premier League have released a statement after a controversial VAR incident during the Magpies’ clash with Spurs.

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The Premier League have revealed why Newcastle United were given a penalty in the final stages of their draw with Tottenham Hotspur at St James’ Park.

The score was evenly poised at 1-1 at the time of the incident as Bruno Guimaraes’ opener was cancelled out by a header from Cristian Romero. It was a tale of two captains at that point with Brazilian and Argentine internationals the headline stealers.

However, by the end of the game all talk surrounded VAR’s intervention in Newcastle United’s second goal and the decision by Thomas Bramall to overturn his initial call of no penalty.

It was, though, Guimaraes’ corner that led to the incident as Rodrigo Bentancur, another South American influence in the game, was judged to have fouled Dan Burn at the back post. Bentancur and Burn had been somewhat engaged in a wrestling match but it was judged that the Spurs man had been more forceful during the exchange.

Premier League release VAR statement

Initial protests from Burn fell on deaf ears as he pleaded with the referee, but before play could restart with a goal kick, VAR instructed Bramall to have a second look at the incident. He did so and opted to change his decision.

As ever, the Premier League Match Centre explained the decision on X, writing: ‘#NEWTOT – 82’ VAR OVERTURN. After VAR review, the referee overturned the original decision of no penalty to Newcastle United. Referee announcement: “After review, Tottenham number 30 makes a holding offence at the back post and clearly does not look at the ball. My final decision is penalty kick.”’

Anthony Gordon ultimately stepped up to convert the kick, sending Spurs goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario the wrong way to net his first Premier League goal since January. Nick Woltemade, who scored an unbelievable spot-kick during their win over Nottingham Forest in October, had the ball in his hands before passing it to his teammate to take.

However, that goal would not turn out to be the winning goal as a back-and-forth second half took one final twist as Romero netted an audacious overhead kick in stoppage time to rescue a point for the visitors.

Many neutrals, and certainly those of a Tottenham persuasion, would judge that Romero’s goal was justice for what many believe was a fairly soft penalty given in the Magpies’ favour.

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Certainly, that was the view of Jamie Carragher who, on Sky Sports duty, described the decision as ‘harsh’. Jonathan Woodgate, meanwhile, admitted he would be ‘surprised’ to see it given as the VAR check was in progress.

Both sides tried in vain to grab a late winner but ultimately had to settle with a point apiece, one that does neither side too much good in the race for European football. Both have Premier League games to contend with at the weekend before playing their sixth Champions League game of the league phase next week.

Newcastle United’s next two games come against Burnley and Bayer Leverkusen before they face the trip to the Stadium of Light to take on Sunderland in the first Wear-Tyne derby of the season.