00:00It was another big win for Newcastle United on Monday night in their quest for Champions League qualification.
00:06A 3-0 win at Leicester City and it was probably one of the easiest wins Newcastle United have ever had in the Premier League era.
00:16It was 3-0 going on 6 or 7, it could have really been a lot more but Newcastle got three goals within the opening half hour.
00:25A Jacob Murphy brace and a goal for Harvey Barnes against his former club and from then on really Newcastle United took the foot off the gas.
00:35The game was won, it allowed them to make substitutions early in the second half for resting key players like Alexander Isaac, Bruneghimer Reich, Joe Linton.
00:44So it really was an easy evening for Newcastle United and they'll certainly take that maybe a little bit of disappointment that they didn't get more goals
00:53and boost that goal difference which will be crucial particularly in terms of that top five.
01:02But yeah, Newcastle at this moment in time in the driving seat, fifth in the table with a game in hand on those teams around them.
01:10So Manchester United up on Sunday and then that game in hand against Crystal Palace.
01:14So if Newcastle United can get maximum points from their next two games, then they really are in that driving seat.
01:22I feel like they are already but yeah, once those two games are over with, it'll be six games left of the season.
01:32And yeah, Newcastle have been in this position before, qualifying for the Champions League a couple of years ago.
01:37So I do feel like that experience will serve them well.
01:41But yeah, just reflecting back on that Vesta game, as I say, very, very easy.
01:46Two goals for Jacob Murphy inside the opening, 11 minutes.
01:50Team Libermando again, feeling sort of incredible.
01:55A few weeks for him at left back, losing Lewis Hall, which is a massive blow.
01:59But Newcastle haven't quite felt that yet because of Team Libermando stepping up at left back,
02:04moving from right back to left back and he's been absolutely brilliant.
02:10Really good attacking output as well as defensively because he's faced some tough opponents.
02:14Maybe not against Leicester last night, but he's faced some tough opponents in previous weeks.
02:19Jarrod Bowen at West Ham, Brian Ingwemo at Brentford, Mo Salah at Liverpool.
02:23And he dealt with those fantastically.
02:25But he's also shown that desire to get forward, setting the tone where surging runs forward.
02:29And he linked up brilliant with Harvey Barnes for the opening goal last night.
02:33A pinpoint cross for Jacob Murphy and he couldn't miss.
02:37And then, yeah, Jacob Murphy gets on the score sheet.
02:40Of course, nine minutes later, I think it was, Newcastle took the lead after two minutes.
02:44And, yeah, the second goal, 11 minutes in.
02:47Fabian Scherr, audacious effort from the halfway line.
02:51Jacob Murphy, to his credit, follows the ball.
02:54Fabian Scherr's shot hits off the crossbar.
02:56And Jacob Murphy manages to follow it in and make it 2-0.
03:01Probably one of those where maybe there was some disappointment in the fact that Fabian Scherr didn't score
03:09because it was such a spectacular effort and it would have been sort of typical of what he can produce.
03:13Not many defenders in the world can do what Fabian Scherr can do in terms of his technical ability to pick a pass
03:19and pick a shot from the halfway line.
03:21But, yeah, it didn't quite happen for Fabian Scherr, almost.
03:24Goal of the century.
03:25But, yeah, Newcastle will take it.
03:27It was a 2-0 lead.
03:29They were flying.
03:313-0 it was in the 34th minute.
03:33Harvey Barnes against his former club.
03:34Joe Linton sees a shot.
03:36He had Harvey Barnes with the easiest of tap-ins.
03:38And, as I say, from that point on, it was easy work for Newcastle.
03:43As I say, just maybe a disappointment that they didn't manage to increase that goal difference.
03:48But it's all focus on Manchester United on Sunday.
03:53Now Manchester United and Newcastle are always a special fixture.
03:57Always brings that little bit of feistiness and will do on Sunday.
04:00albeit Manchester United, aren't the Manchester United of all.
04:03They're having one of the worst seasons ever.
04:06Sort of signs of improvement a little bit in recent weeks.
04:10Drawing the Man City at the weekend.
04:13But Newcastle at St James' Park with the crowd behind them.
04:16They'll be well up for it.
04:17And I expect Newcastle to go on and win that game.
04:21Will they have Anthony Gordon available?
04:24Well, he missed the trip to Leicester City on Monday.
04:28Of course, three-match suspension.
04:31Anthony Gordon had served that.
04:32He was available to play against Leicester.
04:37But missed out because of the injury he picked up with England against Albania.
04:43Right at the end of that game.
04:45Took a nasty bruise to his thigh.
04:48Hasn't recovered from that yet.
04:49Still bruising around that area.
04:51He's trained individually.
04:52But hasn't joined in with the team yet in terms of full training.
04:56So, he will be assessed ahead of that game.
04:58You'd hope with a sort of a six-day break, if you like.
05:03Or six days between Leicester and Manchester United.
05:06Anthony Gordon will get himself fit.
05:08And will be at least in a position to get on the bench.
05:11Because Harvey Barnes at this moment in time has probably made that left-hand side position his own.
05:17First time he started four consecutive matches for Newcastle United.
05:20And he hasn't really put a foot wrong with the goal for him at Leicester.
05:25So, that sort of further cements his spot on the left-hand side.
05:29But to have Anthony Gordon available in that squad, of course, will be an absolutely massive boost.
05:34Because options off the bench, although Eddie Howe was able to make changes last night, weren't as strong as you would like.
05:42Joe Willock was another who missed the game at Leicester.
05:46Took a bang to the head in the latter stages of that Brentford game.
05:50He's now serving concussion protocols.
05:53So, misses or has missed the Leicester game.
05:57And, of course, has already ruled out of the Manchester United game.
06:00So, it'll be interesting to see if he is able to feature against Crystal Palace three days after the Manchester United game.
06:08Concussion protocols are quite open.
06:14All goes what the medical people say.
06:19So, yeah, Joe Willock again will be assessed but won't make that Manchester United game.
06:25And then Newcastle other injuries.
06:27Like you, Sven Boplin's, of course, Lewis Hall rule out for the rest of the season.
06:30Sven Boplin hopes he can be back at the beginning of May.
06:34He's been in Dubai this week doing some warm other training.
06:38So, he's about four weeks into his recovery.
06:40When you've got four weeks left, he can be back for the remaining three or four games of the season.
06:47But, yeah, it's very much as you were in terms of Newcastle's squad.
06:51Unless they can get Anthony Gordon back on Sunday.
