Newcastle United's 'scary' £143m prospect & why Bruno Guimaraes must be cherished

It wasn’t, at times, pretty, but they don’t have to be.

All too often in a season of stark ups and downs, Newcastle United have walked away from an encounter with nothing to show for their efforts.

This wasn’t anything like that. Newcastle stunk the place out for half an hour, were largely outperformed for 45 minutes, only to turn on the class, in moments, and leave Craven Cottage with all three points.

Bruno Guimaraes’ strike proved the difference in the 1-0 win over Fulham.

But what were the main talking points? Here’s five we decided to get our teeth into...

Results consistency - just when it’s needed

If we didn’t all know it already, Newcastle are in a battle to finish in arguably three available European slots for next season. Sixth, seventh and eighth (if Europe drops that far) are all wide open, with a handful of teams, and more, with their eyes on the prize.

All it will take is for a trio of clubs to grab the bull by the horns and grasp their opportunity, with a remote semblance of consistency, in order to take one of the available places.

So far, no one has shown any signs of that. Well, maybe Newcastle are right now.

Since the international break, United have taken seven points from a possible nine. And even though the Everton draw was disappointing, seven out of nine is no bad return.

Do the same again in the next three and you’d have to think the top eight is very much Newcastle’s to lose.

Skipper Burn underlines central promise

We know he can perform there, he’s done it before, of course. But it really is refreshing to see Dan Burn in the centre, and performing to his highest level for quite some time.

It’s clear he’s more at home there, and with Fabian Schar, they look solid, bar for the Swiss defender’s odd slip or two down in West London.

Another clean sheet - they’re rare these days - and skipper Burn really played his part.

Cherish Bruno - he’s one of a kind

The boy is a wonder. He’s just beautiful, isn’t he? With and without the ball Bruno Guimaraes was the best player on the park. Period. No comeback needed.

The lad is class personified. Winning headers from corners, free-kicks, dictating things and finishing like a boss.

Cherish him, Newcastle United. We need more like him, not less.

Howe’s bench game wins it

The turning point of the whole encounter was Harvey Barnes’ introduction.

Fulham, to an extent, dealt with everything Jacob Murphy could produce and Anthony Gordon, as involved as he was, lacked his usual killer instinct with the ball.

When Barnes came on, even though it wasn’t his most impactful performance with the ball, he pushed Fulham back and made that United frontline a whole lot more potent.

I can’t wait to see a fully fit and firing Alexander Isak with Barnes and Gordon, worth a total of £143million, on either flank. It could well be scary.

Another injury - what a surprise!

Newcastle top the charts for days missed due to injuries from players this season, and with 11 pre-game, it’s difficult to see how any other top flight team catches them. Scrap 11, make that 12.

Five minutes before the break, an all too familiar sight, a Newcastle player on their backside waiting for medical assistance. And, as usual, the player’s day was over.

This time it was Joe Willock. Everyone will hope it isn’t too bad. Although, being honest, it didn’t little to disrupt the team on the day, with the former Arsenal man well off colour yet again.