Newcastle United face triple summer exit decision as Joelinton 'replacement' found

They say old habits die hard - and for Newcastle United dropping late points is proving a tough one to shake.

A Dominic Calvert-Lewin penalty was enough to rescue a draw for Sean Dyche's relegation-threatened Toffees, after Alexander Isak had given the Magpies a deserved lead.

But what were the main talking points from the encounter? Here we take a look at how the 1-1 played out at St James' Park.

Tale of two halves?

It very much felt like Newcastle needed the second. And so it proved. This was a story told and told again for the Magpies this campaign.

In the opening 45 they seemed to have Everton's number, dominating possession and creating chances galore. While the chances still presented themselves in the second period, Newcastle's control waned.

Options limited - but what's new?

As that control drifted, what Newcastle needed was an option in midfield, someone to wrestle back influence. Put simply, they don't have that right now. It's tough to remember a time when they did have it.

Joe Willock brought legs but lacked the physicality of Elliot Anderson and wasn't the profile of player needed to turn the dial in the middle. However, Eddie Howe can only play the cards he's been dealt.

Youthful influence felt - positives in the result gloom

Lewis Hall and Anderson's emergence in the team has been one of the real positives of an up and down week. And while the result was not what the doctor ordered, a fit again Anderson and fired up Hall gives hope for optimism.

Anderson is the closest thing Newcastle have to Joelinton in the squad and his physicality and challenges was a real feature of the first 45. Expectedly so, he tired after the break.

And Hall looks more than ready to impact things at Premier League level now, having struggled to do so in black and white until recently. And thankfully for Howe, he was taken off with fatigue and nothing more, so should be fine to replace Paul Dummett, especially after his error cost Newcastle dear, down at Fulham.

Squad questions - Dummett and Krafth?

Newcastle's squad, as we all know, has holes. Even Howe himself would admit that willingly.

But now having to rely on players who have bared kicked a top flight ball in two years is proving costly. Both - no fault of their own - are a huge drop off from the injured players they are replacing.

But, in fairness, any team would miss the 12 key bodies who are unavailable at the moment.

It has to be questioned, however, whether either of those mentioned, along with Matt Ritchie, should be anywhere near the Magpies' Premier League squad next campaign, not when United are an upwardly mobile club.

Interestingly, four of the back five - defenders and keeper - were in the XI two years ago, when this team fought and won the battle to avoid the drop.

Dan Burn is a centre-half - who knew?

Played largely at left back in his Premier League career, including at Brighton, Burn has, at times, looked a little uncomfortable.

His huge, hulking frame looks every bit central defender perfect, but the player has, for any number of reasons, rarely been selected there.

He was Newcastle's man of the match, head and shoulders, quite literally, above anything else on the night. It was nice to see the big man in his true habitat - long may this form continue.