{"id":54260,"date":"2025-04-27T08:10:12","date_gmt":"2025-04-27T08:10:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/54260\/"},"modified":"2025-04-27T08:10:12","modified_gmt":"2025-04-27T08:10:12","slug":"barnes-boost-as-gordon-not-100-match-fit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/54260\/","title":{"rendered":"Barnes boost as Gordon not “100% match-fit”"},"content":{"rendered":"

Harvey Barnes<\/strong> (\u00a36.0m) blanked in Newcastle United\u2019s ultimately routine 3-0 victory over 10-man Ipswich Town on Saturday.<\/p>\n

It ended a run of six successive games in which he\u2019s delivered at least one attacking return.<\/p>\n

There was a post-match boost for the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) managers who own the winger outside of a Gameweek 34 Free Hit, however.<\/p>\n

Picking the bones out of Ipswich\u2019s relegation-sealing defeat on Tyneside, we begin this weekend\u2019s Scout Notes.<\/p>\n

GORDON NOT \u201c100% MATCH-FIT\u201d<\/p>\n

After last week\u2019s hammering at Villa Park, there had been some pre-game speculation about whether Anthony Gordon<\/strong> (\u00a37.4m) would return to the Newcastle starting XI on Saturday.<\/p>\n

In the end, Eddie Howe kept faith with his two in-form wingers, Barnes and Jacob Murphy<\/strong> (\u00a35.3m).<\/p>\n

Gordon was reduced to another substitute appearance, replacing Murphy for the fourth consecutive game.<\/p>\n

Speaking after the match, Howe revealed that Gordon is still feeling some discomfort in his knee.<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cI think Harvey has been outstanding since he got his opportunity in the team. I think he grabbed it with both hands and that\u2019s all he can do.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnthony, I don\u2019t think is still 100% match-fit. This week in training, he was still aware of some feeling in his knee, so we need to protect him and make sure that when we bring him back in the team that he is 100% fit.\u201d \u2013 Eddie Howe<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

A potential boost for Barnes\u2019 ongoing starting prospects, then, and maybe even Murphy\u2019s minutes (as curtailed as they already are), given that he has been the one making way for Gordon recently.<\/p>\n

Elsewhere on injury watch, Joelinton<\/strong> (\u00a36.0m) missed out with a recurring knee issue and is set to see a specialist.<\/p>\n

In better news, medium-term absentee Sven Botman<\/strong> (\u00a34.4m) returned to action as a late substitute. He came on for Fabian Schar<\/strong> (\u00a35.5m), who himself had been a minor concern for Gameweek 34.<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cHe is slightly ahead [of schedule] but he trained this week and trained really well, looked excellent. He\u2019s looked after himself. He\u2019s done everything right to try and come back as quickly as possible. He is a great professional and he\u2019s also a big presence for us. We\u2019ve missed him. It\u2019s great to be able to bring him on the pitch in a game that maybe wouldn\u2019t stress him as much as normal. It was a perfect reintroduction.\u201d \u2013 Eddie Howe on Sven Botman<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

ISAK \u201cNOT AT THE TOP OF HIS GAME\u201d<\/p>\n

It was a bit of an underwhelming afternoon for Barnes, Murphy and Alexander Isak<\/strong> (\u00a39.6m). The latter two did at least return something as Murphy was fouled for Isak\u2019s converted 45th-minute penalty.<\/p>\n

Ipswich\u2019s low block only got lower after Ben Johnson<\/strong> (\u00a33.8m) was dismissed, with Barnes and Murphy reduced to efforts from distance. At least there should be fewer parked buses in the next three Gameweeks:<\/p>\n

\"Gordon<\/p>\n

Isak again looked below his usual stratospheric levels, with his finishing wayward \u2013 as it has been in recent weeks \u2013 bar the penalty. Two slices from inside the Ipswich box were wild, while a close-range header sailed over. Barnes and Murphy were robbed of assists for those missed big chances.<\/p>\n

\"Gordon<\/p>\n

Above: Good positions, just lacking the execution \u2013 Alexander Isak\u2019s xG shotmap on Saturday<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cI think, in part, Ipswich\u2019s game plan would have been to stop Alex today. So I think the reducing of space [and] the low defensive line does limit his ability to bring his main strengths to the game. Of course, as a team, we still need to find a way to get him into the game and I felt we did and I felt he did. I felt he improved as the game went on.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs he at the absolute top of his game at the moment? Possibly not, but I think that\u2019s the same with any player, there\u2019ll be little peaks and troughs. The most important thing is, throughout the season, that he\u2019s still contributing and scoring massive goals for us. We back him to rediscover that, we\u2019re talking 1 or 2%, back into his game very quickly.\u201d \u2013 Eddie Howe on Alexander Isak<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

TRIPPIER EXPLOITS IPSWICH\u2019S SET-PIECE WOES<\/p>\n

As discussed last week<\/a>, Ipswich have got a real problem with set plays right now. All three of their goals conceded on Saturday were from dead-ball situations, including Isak\u2019s penalty.<\/p>\n

Kieran Trippier<\/strong> (\u00a35.6m) took advantage of that, putting two crosses in that Dan Burn<\/strong> (\u00a34.5m) and substitute William Osula<\/strong> (\u00a34.9m) nodded home.<\/p>\n

Perhaps towering centre-back Jake O\u2019Brien <\/strong>(\u00a34.5m) and Everton can exploit that weakness in Gameweek 35.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s three assists in as many Gameweeks for the veteran Trippier, who returns aside, has been excellent since his recall.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Above: Kieran Trippier is joint-top among defenders for chances created since his Gameweek 28 recall<\/p>\n

Ipswich are down now, their inevitable relegation mathematically sealed. We\u2019ve seen teams liberated by the drop in the past but the chasm in class might trump all that.<\/p>\n

They were without arguably their best defender on Saturday, too, with Axel Tuanzebe<\/strong> (\u00a33.8m) ruled out with a hamstring injury.<\/a><\/p>\n

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