Anthony Gordon and Nick Woltemade will hog the headlines, but they were not the only Newcastle United players that shone in the Champions League against Union Saint-Gilloise.
Eddie Howe has been waiting for his side to make a statement this season, and it came in the Champions League in Brussels on Wednesday night.
Newcastle beat USG 4-0, with goals from Woltemade, Gordon and Harvey Barnes.
The Magpies were outstanding on the road, producing the type of attacking display that has been missing ever since Alexander Isak downed tools.
Woltemade played brilliantly again, while Gordon netted his second and third goals of the season. The 24-year-old was electric all night, and he will hope that this is the beginning of a blistering campaign in black and white.
However, former Newcastle United goalkeeper Shay Given believes another one of Eddie Howe’s players deserves praise for their performance against USG.
Shay Given blown away by ‘brilliant’ Anthony Elanga against USG
Gordon’s first penalty came about when Anthony Elanga was fouled in the box.
The USG defenders could not handle Elanga’s speed, and Given was eager to praise the £55million man during TNT Sports’ post-match analysis of Newcastle’s win in Belgium.
“He [Elanga] was brilliant,” he said.
“I think it’s his best game, if I’m being honest, in a black and white shirt. He was absolutely superb down that right-hand side. He ran them ragged.”
- Who is Anthony Elanga? Newcastle United’s brand new £55m winger
Why Newcastle United fans should suddenly be very excited about Anthony Elanga
There was huge excitement when Elanga joined Newcastle United from Nottingham Forest. The expectation was that he would hit the ground running at St James’ Park, arriving as a ‘plug and play’ addition to the Newcastle United squad.
However, that is not exactly how things have panned out for the 23-year-old. Elanga has shown flashes of brilliance, while he has also been wasteful.
He has failed to justify his place in Newcastle United’s best XI, but that may have changed after the Champions League victory in Brussels.
Elanga was a constant threat against USG, causing countless problems for the Belgian Pro League champions.
There were moments where he could have done better, but this was certainly a promising performance. As Given says, it was his best in black and white.
This now needs to be Elanga’s standard. We have seen what he is capable of, while knowing that he can provide even more. After a questionable start to life on Tyneside, the real Anthony Elanga appears to have finally arrived.
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