Newcastle United star deserves ‘a whole lot more respect’ as Eddie Howe’s wish comes true - five things

First gear? OK, maybe second. Newcastle United is a different Premier League beast these days - and they’re barely breaking a sweat, particularly at home, in claiming three points these days.

A Jacob Murphy lobbed effort - did he mean it? I think not - followed by strikes from Antony Gordon, Sean Longstaff and Callum Wilson ensured the Magpies put the Eagles to the sword and crept their way back up to the fringes of the Champions League race.

But how did they do it - and what stood out on the day? Here’s five key takeaways from the St James’ Park encounter.

Goals, goals & more goals

This team creates chances galore. They do it home and away, but they’re no more potent than on Tyneside, where first the Leazes, then the Gallowgate goal is peppered with black and white creativity.

Newcastle, at the time of writing, were the top scorers in the Premier League. Obviously a lot of that is owed to the eight-goal win at Sheffield United, however, Saturday was the fourth time already this season they’ve managed to score four or more goals.

Do we have a defensive legend in our midst?

He doesn’t really have a song. Rarely, if ever, gets picked out by anyone as the star of the show. Gets zero to no praise from anyone outside of Tyneside and would not be picked in anyone’s Premier League team of the season this season, never mind last.

However, Fabian Schar is by far, Newcastle’s most consistent performer since the start of 2022/23 - and there’s definitely a case to say he’s up there as the best player in that time, too.

He’s a silky, classy defender with bags of ability and defensive steel. Put simply there are few like him in world football, and even less who have worn a black and white shirt, past and present.

There definitely needs to be a whole lot more respect put on his name.

The Longstaff ball that has become the Almiron of last season

Week-in, week-out, that inside ball from Kieran Trippier to Sean Longstaff is unlocking defences in the Premier League and on the continent. The bursting run into the space between centre half and left back has already seen the midfielder equal his best ever goalscoring season (3).

It very much reminds me of the Bruno Guimaraes ball over the top to Miguel Almiron last season in how much of an impact it is having. That one eventually got found out, but it couldn’t stop Miggy hitting double figures. It would be great to see Longstaff, who does have a real eye for goal, do the same.

Sandro Tonali’s Geordie reception

Roy Hodgson said it after the game, and I’m in agreement, you wouldn’t expect anything less than a rousing, warm reception for Sandro Tonali after what has probably been one of the toughest weeks of his life.

The player was welcomed when warming up, then shown yet more love on arrival on the pitch and exiting it with the rest of the team.

Eddie Howe called for the Magpies to wrap their arms around him - and they did just that. In many ways, it epitomises the close relationship between club, fans and players that now exists, a far cry from the painful days of old.

Murphy proves his value - yet again

He’s not everyone’s cup of tea as a player, but you cannot fault his attitude and application - as well as his amazing contribution on Saturday.

Jacob Murphy scored and created two others in the four-goal win and looked right at his very best. Just when Eddie Howe needs him, Murphy can be trusted to step in and do the job, just like he has time and time again in recent seasons.

He’s not flash, but he’s a reliable member of this squad - and you can see why Howe loves him so much after days like that.