Eddie Howe's Newcastle Aims for League Cup Success

Eddie Howe

Eddie Howe's Newcastle United looks to bounce back from recent struggles against Bradford City in the League Cup.

“I'm hopeful we're evolving to a different team, hopefully a better team, but it may take a bit of time...”

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe acknowledges that his team is still adjusting to life without Alexander Isak, who transferred to Liverpool. The absence of the prolific striker has left a significant void in the team's attack, and Howe is calling for patience as his new-look lineup struggles to find its rhythm. Newcastle's recent performance at Bournemouth, where they held to a goalless draw, marked their third consecutive 0-0 away game in the Premier League.

The stalemate at the Vitality Stadium extended Newcastle's winless run on the road this season, with the team failing to score in their last four away games. This lack of productivity has raised concerns about the team's ability to adapt to Isak's departure. Despite the struggles, Howe praised his team's defensive resilience, highlighting the strength of his squad in keeping clean sheets.

It ends all square on the South Coast. pic.twitter.com/8Sr8uAzUoZ

— Newcastle United (@NUFC) September 21, 2025

Howe emphasized that his team's recent results are a testament to their defensive strength, saying, “If you look at the games we've played, it's not by luck that we've kept these clean sheets.” The manager also commended his team's performance, stating, “We showed the strength of our squad today because I did think it was a good performance without being a match-winning one.” With four clean sheets in the Premier League this season, Newcastle's defensive unit has been impressive, but the team's attacking woes remain a pressing issue.

Hear from Eddie Howe and Malick Thiaw following today's draw at Bournemouth ⤵️

— Newcastle United (@NUFC) September 21, 2025

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe expressed satisfaction with their defensive performance, highlighted by a third consecutive clean sheet in the league. However, the team's attacking struggles have been a concern, with only three goals scored in five games. Newcastle currently sits 13th in the standings with six points. “It's three 0-0s away from home for us, which is really uncommon with our attacking style,” Howe said, acknowledging the team's usual approach.

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe expressed optimism about the team's evolution, saying, “I'm hopeful we're evolving to a different team, hopefully a better team, but it may take a bit of time.” This transformation is partly driven by the departure of Alexander Isak to Liverpool in a record-breaking deal, which prompted the Magpies to sign German striker Nick Woltemade in a club-record £69 million deal. Woltemade's impressive stats, including 17 goals in 33 appearances for Stuttgart, make him a promising addition to Newcastle's attack.

“I thought Nick played really well today,” Howe added. “I thought he was very effective with his footwork and his link play.

“But we just need to know and get used to him and his style more and get more runners off him because he's very good in that respect.”

Newcastle United will host Bradford City in the League Cup second round on Wednesday. The match will give the Magpies an opportunity to get back to winning ways and make progress in the competition. With a mix of first-team and youth players likely to feature, Eddie Howe's side will aim to build on their defensive solidity and find a way to break down Bradford's defense.