Eddie Howe has come out in full support of Anthony Elanga after substituting the winger during Newcastle United’s 2-1 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion.
Despite removing the young attacker at half-time, Howe made it clear that he has complete faith in Elanga’s potential and believes the player will go on to become a great success at the club.
Newcastle entered the match on a positive note, having secured back-to-back victories over Union Saint-Gilloise and Nottingham Forest before the international break.
Howe opted to stick with the same starting lineup, hoping to build on that momentum. However, the first half at the Amex Stadium didn’t go as planned. Brighton were sharper, quicker, and more coordinated, and their persistence paid off when Danny Welbeck opened the scoring to put the Seagulls ahead.
As Newcastle struggled to find rhythm and penetration in the first half, Howe decided to make changes at the break. Both Anthony Elanga and Joelinton were replaced by Jacob Murphy and Lewis Miley in a move designed to bring new energy and different qualities to the side.
Explaining his decision, Howe said it was purely tactical, adding that the team needed a shake-up to rediscover intensity and control in the game. He praised the impact of the substitutes, saying the side improved significantly after the break.
The second half showed more promise for the Magpies. Lewis Miley, who replaced Joelinton, was influential in midfield and provided the assist for Nick Woltemade’s equaliser a smart flick that brought Newcastle back into the contest.
However, their joy was short-lived as Danny Welbeck struck again eight minutes later, sealing Brighton’s victory and leaving Newcastle to reflect on another frustrating afternoon.
While many fans have been quick to point fingers at Elanga for his quiet display, Howe was firm in his defence of the young winger.
Signed from Nottingham Forest for £55 million during the summer, Elanga arrived with high expectations after an impressive spell in the Premier League. However, 11 matches into his Newcastle career, he is still searching for his first goal or assist.
Howe, though, refuses to single out any individual for criticism, insisting that the team’s struggles go beyond one player. “We need more from everybody,” he said after the match. “It’s never about one player.
Anthony is going to be a great player for this football club I’ve got no doubt about that. Some players just need a bit more time, a bit more confidence, or that one moment to spark things into life. He’s got all the right attributes to do really well here, so I’ve got no issues or worries about him.”
The Newcastle boss also pointed out that the team as a whole has not been firing on all cylinders. With only two wins from eight Premier League matches, the Magpies sit 12th in the table and have struggled to find consistency in attack.
Howe stressed that the lack of productivity in the final third is not just down to the forwards but also the team’s collective contribution from the defenders’ distribution to the full-backs’ involvement going forward.
“It’s always about the collective,” he said. “Too many of our attacking players aren’t delivering enough right now, and that affects the whole side.”
One major concern for Newcastle has been their shortage of goals. With only seven goals scored so far this season, they rank among the lowest-scoring teams in the league, ahead of only Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest, and Wolves.
New signing Nick Woltemade has been the standout, scoring four of those seven goals, but Howe admitted that the team cannot rely on one player alone.
“That’s definitely a concern for us,” he acknowledged. “We’ve always been a team that shared goals across different areas of the pitch, and we need to get back to that. Nick’s done really well and we’re delighted for him, but we need others to step up too.”
Despite the frustration of the defeat, Howe remains optimistic that Newcastle will find their stride. He praised the second-half response and said the performance, while not perfect, showed signs of improvement.
The challenge now, he added, is to turn those positive moments into consistent results. For Elanga, that same patience and belief applies.
The manager’s words make it clear that the 22-year-old still has the full backing of his boss and that Newcastle see him as an important part of their long-term project.
With the team still adjusting to a demanding schedule that includes domestic and European commitments, Howe’s message was one of calm and perspective.
He believes that once the group finds its attacking rhythm and players like Elanga settle into their roles, the results will follow. The journey may have started slowly, but in Howe’s eyes, both Newcastle and Elanga have plenty of time and potential to prove their quality.
