Newcastle United’s journey over the past few seasons has been like a rollercoaster. After a difficult 2023/24 season, the team, led by manager Eddie Howe, made an incredible comeback.
They went on to win the Carabao Cup, a fantastic achievement that brought silverware back to the club, and they also secured a spot in the prestigious Champions League. It was a period of great success that showed the team’s true potential.
The new season is now underway, but it has been a bit of a bumpy start. The summer transfer window was a busy and challenging time for the club.
When a key player like Alexander Isak leaves, it creates a big hole that needs to be filled. The team is still trying to find its best form and adjust to this new situation. However, there is no need for panic.
The foundation of the club is stronger than it has been in many years. The change in ownership has not only improved the first team but has also breathed new life into the club’s academy, which is now producing exciting young talents at a faster rate.
In this new chapter, a lot of responsibility falls on the shoulders of players who are already established in the team.
Anthony Gordon is one of those players. A couple of seasons ago, he was named the club’s Player of the Year after an amazing season where he scored and created many goals.
Now, with Isak gone, it is time for Gordon to rediscover that top form. Last season was not as productive for him, but he remains a player with immense talent, so much so that other big clubs were interested in signing him.
He recently scored a important goal against Barcelona, which is a positive sign that he is getting back to his best.
The table below shows a comparison of Anthony Gordon’s key statistics from his excellent 2023/24 season against his more difficult 2024/25 season. It helps illustrate the areas where he will be looking to improve.
| Performance Metric (*per game) | 2023/24 Season | 2024/25 Season |
|---|---|---|
| Matches Played (Starts) | 35 (34) | 26 (25) |
| Goals Scored | 11 | 6 |
| Assists | 10 | 5 |
| Shots on Target* | 0.9 | 0.7 |
| Big Chances Created | 16 | 6 |
| Successful Dribbles* | 0.74 | 0.59 |
| Tackles + Interceptions* | 1.8 | 1.3 |
While the current players work on maintaining a high level, the club is also excited about the future. The academy has already produced first-team players like Elliot Anderson and Lewis Miley.
The latest young star to get everyone talking is a new signing named Vakhtang Salia. The club managed to sign this 17-year-old attacker from Dinamo Tbilisi in Georgia, beating some of Europe’s biggest clubs to his signature. This is a clear sign of the club’s ambitious new direction.
Journalists and experts who have seen Salia play use very exciting words to describe him. They say he is “one of the best teenage prospects in the world.”
He is known for being powerful, agile, and very fast with the ball at his feet. His playing style is so dynamic and exciting that some analysts have even compared him to Barcelona’s wonderkid, Lamine Yamal, who is considered one of the best young players on the planet.
While it is far too early to expect Salia to be as good as Yamal, the fact that the comparison is being made shows the incredible potential he possesses.
Salia has already shown what he can do, scoring and assisting goals for his former club’s senior team. Unfortunately, he has picked up a small injury since arriving, so fans will have to wait a little longer to see him play for the youth teams.
But the general feeling is that he will be worth the wait. He is seen as an “elite talent” who has the raw abilities to become a very special player.
For Newcastle United, the path forward involves a balance. The team needs established stars like Anthony Gordon to lead the way and perform consistently.
At the same time, the club is wisely investing in the future by bringing in young talents like Vakhtang Salia. By blending experienced players with promising youngsters, the club is building a squad that can be successful not just for one season, but for many years to come. The future looks bright on Tyneside.
