Eddie Howe has shared just how much Newcastle United have missed Harvey Barnes this season after a 4-4 draw against Luton yesterday.
It’s not the result he would’ve wanted, but Howe will have been pleased to see his £39m summer signing back on the pitch and back on the score sheet against Luton.
In an interview with NUFCTV after the game, Howe shared just how pleased he was for the winger who came on at half time for his first appearance since the 8-0 thrashing of Sheffield United back in September.
Howe ‘really pleased’ to see Barnes back in a Newcastle shirt
After what was such an uneventful and frustrating January transfer window, having Barnes back in the team after playing just six Premier League games is almost like a new signing.
It’s probably the one big positive Howe can take away from a game which would have really disappointed him from a defensive standpoint and given him a lot to think about for Newcastle’s next game against Nottingham Forest.
The 26-year-old showed real composure to take the goal on his weaker foot from outside of the box and it’s something that he’s going to have to continue bringing to the team after all the injuries they have suffered to attackers this season.
Of course, the huge disappointment is seeing someone like Anthony Gordon going off and being pictured on crutches after the game, but Howe will be hoping that Newcastle don’t have another serious injury.
In the interview, Howe said: “It was great goal, incredible goal really when he’s on his wrong foot from quite a way out. Really pleased for Harvey because he hasn’t had a chance to show how good he is.
“I think he’s an outstanding player, he’s a goalscorer, he showed that today and we’ve really missed him.”
Newcastle suffer a never ending injury crisis
It really does feel like there’s a one in one out system going on at Newcastle who have struggled all season to have more than 11 fit and available first-team players.
In the attack especially Newcastle have been particularly weak with Callum Wilson return as soon as Alexander Isak picks up another injury and vice versa, and now the same has happened with Barnes and Gordon.
Newcastle fans will be wondering when exactly they’re going to get a break after things started to look a bit more positive for them after that big win against Aston Villa in the middle of the week.
Now, it’s back to square one and the team will have to work very hard and make big improvements if they still have hopes of Champions League qualification.
Receive a digest of our best Newcastle content each week direct to your mailbox
