The anticipation surrounding Newcastle United’s upcoming trip to North London is reaching a fever pitch, but much of the conversation isn’t about the opponent. Instead, the focus has shifted entirely to Eddie Howe’s team selection and, specifically, the curious case of Anthony Elanga.
As the Magpies prepare to face Tottenham Hotspur this Tuesday, a series of surprising managerial calls and untimely injuries have paved the way for the Swedish international to finally claim a consistent starting role. For a player who arrived with a massive £55 million price tag from Nottingham Forest last summer, this moment feels less like a routine rotation and more like a final opportunity to justify his place in a squad that is currently searching for its lost identity.
The road to this point has been anything but smooth for the 23-year-old winger. Since his high-profile move, Elanga has struggled to translate his undeniable raw pace into the tangible currency of goals and assists.
Occupying a right-sided role that requires high tactical discipline and clinical execution, he often found himself on the periphery of games. However, football has a way of turning on a single moment. For Elanga, that moment arrived during a recent Carabao Cup semi-final clash against Manchester City.
Coming off the bench at the Etihad, he produced a stunning solo goal, darting between world-class defenders before curling a precise finish into the corner. It was a glimpse of the “elite” potential that prompted Newcastle to spend so heavily on him in the first place.
That goal seemed to be the catalyst for a change in his fortunes. With star winger Anthony Gordon sidelined by a nagging hamstring injury, most observers expected Elanga to be the first name on the team sheet for the subsequent match against Brentford.
Even Eddie Howe fueled this expectation, spending a significant portion of his pre-match press conference praising Elanga’s work rate and technical ability. The manager spoke at length about how the goal against City was a “reward” for his efforts and expressed hope that it would provide a much-needed boost to the young player’s self-belief.
Yet, when the official lineup was announced at St. James’ Park, eyebrows were raised across the stadium. Jacob Murphy had been given the nod instead, a decision that left many wondering what Elanga had to do to earn a starting spot.
As it turned out, the gamble on Murphy did not pay dividends. Newcastle endured a dismal first half, with Murphy struggling to maintain possession and eventually conceding a penalty in a particularly difficult individual performance.
Recognizing the error, Howe once again turned to Elanga at the interval. While his second-half display against the Bees didn’t quite reach the heights of his heroics in Manchester, he remained a constant threat.
Crucially, it was his delivery into the box that led to the foul on Bruno Guimaraes, winning Newcastle a penalty and proving that even when he isn’t scoring, his presence changes the gravity of the opposing defense.
Heading into the Tuesday night fixture against a desperate Tottenham side, the “Murphy experiment” appears to be over for now. With Gordon still unavailable and the team desperate for a spark to arrest their recent slump, Elanga is the most logical choice to lead the line on the right.
This selection isn’t just about filling a gap; it’s about finding a formula that works. Howe is expected to deploy a front three that could see Harvey Barnes occupying the left wing and the physically imposing Nick Woltemade taking the central striker role. This setup would provide a blend of Barnes’ clinical finishing, Woltemade’s hold-up play, and Elanga’s explosive speed on the break.
| Newcastle Attacking Options | Primary Strength | Recent Impact |
| Anthony Elanga | Raw Pace / 1v1 Dribbling | Solo Goal vs Man City |
| Harvey Barnes | Finishing / Cutting Inside | Consistent goal threat |
| Nick Woltemade | Aerial Power / Hold-up Play | Strong physical presence |
| William Osula | Agility / Late Runs | Lively cameo vs Brentford |
There is also the wildcard option of William Osula, who looked energetic and dangerous during a brief late appearance on Saturday. However, given the stakes of the Tottenham match and the need for Premier League experience, Elanga remains the frontrunner.
The stakes for the Swede could not be higher. Newcastle is currently sitting in a mid-table position that feels far below their ambitions, and the gap to the European places is widening with every dropped point. To turn the season around, Howe needs his “big-money” signings to perform like leaders.
The manager’s belief in Elanga’s ability has never been in doubt, but the player must now prove he can deliver across a full 90 minutes rather than just in eye-catching cameos. Against a Spurs defense that has shown vulnerability to pace in behind, Elanga will have the space he craves.
If he can replicate the clinical edge he showed at the Etihad, it won’t just justify his price tag it might just save Newcastle’s season. The time for “encouraging performances from the bench” is over; Tuesday night is the time for Anthony Elanga to show he is a cornerstone of the new Newcastle.
