Newcastle United duo respond to critics & 'forgotten' man tipped for new contract - five things

A win, finally. After three defeats on the bounce - almost unprecedented under Eddie Howe - three points stops the rot for Newcastle United.

Goals from Lewis Miley, Miguel Almiron and Dan Burn, following a Raul Jiminez red card, ensured the Magpies claimed all three points in the Premier League, having lost their last two in the competition.

Here's the five key talking points from the St James' Park encounter.

Miley sensation

The boy just keeps getting better and better. There really is no stopping teenage sensation Lewis Miley.

From his record-breaking assist against AC Milan in the Champions League, to becoming the Magpies' youngest Premier League goalscorer, the Stanley kid is just taking it all in his stride.

The future certainly looks bright for the player, as long as his progress is managed correctly. He has poise, stature, composure and quality. He really looks the real deal.

Anyone who saw his performances in the USA in the summer knows his class, but I'm not sure anyone thought he'd make as much as an impact as he has so soon.

Bruno masterclass

When Newcastle needed one of their players to step up and make things happen, their midfield conductor obliged.

Bruno Guimaraes grabbed a game drifting into obscurity by the scruff of the neck and created something from nothing, time and time again.

Without doubt, these last few months, have easily been his most consistently brilliant in black and white - and long may it continue.

The return of Krafu

Emil Krafth is so often Newcastle's forgotten man. Out injured for so long, people forgot how good a player he can be.

The Swede has never let Howe down, whether called upon to play on the right or the middle, as he did at Old Trafford in the Carabao Cup.

He was one of the real plus points of the Fulham performance, filling in on the right and giving Howe a possible headache, with his contract coming to an end. Another deal? Wouldn't be the worst decision they've ever made - and a few others in the group who would likely be chopped, in an ideal world, before him.

Injury situation worsens?

Alexander Isak sat this one out with a groin issue, while Fabian Schar and Joelinton limped out of the action.

Yet more issues kind of offsets the return to the fold of the likes of Dan Burn, Sean Longstaff, Callum Wilson and now Sven Botman, who made a welcome cameo show off the bench.

The hope is that the two fresh concerns are nothing more than short-term, while Isak isn't a million miles away. Howe will certainly hope so, as his squad can't really take much of this.

Criticised duo make positive impact

Two players who maybe deservedly took some criticism after the last two games are Miguel Almiron and Martin Dubravka. Both stood up and contributed to the win over the Cottagers.

Dubravka had conceded nine goals in three games, finally got a clean sheet under his belt, while Almiron's goal, although handed on a silver platter, will do wonders for the confidence.

My thoughts? Almiron's defensive work has been brilliant, of late, but decision-making and execution has let him down, while it has been a tough ask for Dubravka filling the sizeable boots of Nick Pope, whose stock rises by the day.