Newcastle United welcome Bradford to St James’ Park on Wednesday evening to begin their defence of the Carabao Cup.
While the famous cup win will live long in the memory, the Magpies could make more history if they were to go back-to-back in the competition.
Eddie Howe’s side are fresh off a goalless draw against Bournemouth on Sunday, where they made history by becoming the first Premier League side to register three goalless draws away from home at the start of the season.
While it was another point on the board, Newcastle United will need to put in an improved performance against Bradford City, who currently sit at the top of the League One table.
Howe has the opportunity to hand starts to those who are usually fringe players in the Premier League to get minutes in their legs in the middle of a congested fixture schedule.
With changes expected, here are four players who will have a point to prove at St James’ Park.
Aaron Ramsdale
After signing on loan from Southampton in the summer, Aaron Ramsdale is yet to make his competitive debut for the Magpies. However, the 27-year-old impressed during a friendly against Espanyol in pre-season, saving a penalty.
Ramsdale has fallen victim to Nick Pope’s brilliant form at the start of this season, with the 33-year-old perhaps knowing he needs to perform now that a younger goalkeeper with Champions League experience is waiting on the bench.
Wednesday’s game will not only be an opportunity for Ramsdale to get some minutes but also for him to show Howe that he deserves the chance to shine in the Premier League like he has done before with teams like Arsenal and Bournemouth.
Ben Foster says Ramsdale will be patient at Newcastle while he waits for his moment to impress. Playing against Bradford is a great starting point.
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Emil Krafth
While he signed a new deal earlier this year, Emil Krafth will know that he is a fringe player at Newcastle, where they are only used when needed.
The Swede is yet to play in any competition this season, despite being named on the bench for all but one of the Magpies’ games this season.
However, the Bradford game should allow Krafth to come back into the starting lineup ahead of Tino Livramento and Kieran Trippier, who will likely be rested for the game.
Krafth played for Sweden during the international break, so it is not like he is lacking in match sharpness; he just needs the opportunity to play to demonstrate his worth to Howe. Krafth is out of contract at the end of this season, so he needs all the time he can get to show why he signed the new deal earlier this year.
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Jamaal Lascelles
After missing almost 18 months of action due to an ACL injury, Jamaal Lascelles finally found his way back onto the pitch during the draw against Bournemouth.
The 31-year-old has been fit for months, making the bench for Newcastle’s final three games of last season, but Dan Burn and Fabian Schar were just too good to drop at the time.
It is a difficult time to be a centre-back on Tyneside, with the position now brimming with options after the arrival of Malick Thiaw from AC Milan, meaning Lascelles has minimal opportunities to break back into the starting fold.
The Bradford game is a huge opportunity for Lascelles to both start and put in a positive performance, showing Howe that as a former club captain, he still has what it takes to be a part of the squad.
Like Krafth, Lascelles’ contract runs out next summer, so he is undoubtedly fighting for his Newcastle career this season.
Anthony Gordon
Unlike the other players on this list, Anthony Gordon has been getting games for Newcastle. However, his attacking returns have been almost non-existent since February.
Gordon got a weight off his shoulders by scoring in Newcastle’s loss to Barcelona on Thursday night, ending a 22-game run without a goal.
The England international has missed the Magpies’ last three Premier League games after being shown a red card during a fierce encounter against Liverpool in August. However, his suspension is now over, so he can kick on and rediscover the form he had during the 2023/24 campaign.
Gordon has the potential to run rings around Bradford’s defenders if he starts and will likely find the back of the net or bag an assist if he manages to get through on goal. It would be the perfect confidence boost for a player who has looked bereft of it for months.
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