All Eddie Howe wants for Christmas is for Newcastle United to win every game possible.
That has proven to be difficult for the Newcastle United manager this season, with his side enduring an inconsistent first half of the 2025/26 campaign.
Eddie Howe will be hoping for a strong start to 2026, as he reflects on a historic 2025. Not only did he guide Newcastle United back into the Champions League, but he also ended the club’s trophy drought.
He guided Newcastle United to the 2025 Carabao Cup, immortalising himself on Tyneside.
But Howe is hungry for more success, and these are four things that Geordie Boot Boys think will be on his Newcastle United Christmas list ahead of the New Year.
Newcastle United need stability off the pitch
Throughout his tenure at St James’ Park, Howe has rallied against adversity. There has often been chaos behind the scenes, with major figures coming and going.
What Howe and the club need is stability, and they should now get it with David Hopkinson in place as CEO and Ross Wilson becoming the new sporting director.
There is a new hierarchy in between Howe and PIF at Newcastle United, and it is up to them to bring calm to a club that is so often anything but.
Yoane Wissa to justify his £55million price tag
Despite being at Newcastle United for four months now, Toon fans are yet to see the best of Yoane Wissa.
Injury derailed his start to life in black and white, having arrived on transfer deadline day from Brentford for £55million.
Newcastle know they overspent on Wissa, but it was a case of needs must. Another striker was essential, and he needed to be a proven goalscorer to complement the unique profile of Nick Woltemade.
Who is Newcastle’s best ever January signing? ✍
Wissa ticked those boxes, but is yet to prove that it was £55million well spent. If anything, it has been quite the opposite.
But Wissa can change that, as he aims to repay the faith that Newcastle United put in him.
Another trophy after historic Carabao Cup win
While 2025 is ending with the disappointment of Newcastle United’s defeat to Sunderland in the Tyne-Wear derby, the game that will be remembered the most is the 2025 Carabao Cup final.
Newcastle United beat Liverpool at Wembley to finally win silverware, on a day that Toon fans will never forget. In fact, it is a day they would like to repeat.
Managers are largely defined by the trophies they win, and Howe is no exception. He already has one with Newcastle United, but would love to make it two in 2026.
Newcastle’s win over Fulham means they are still in the mix to defend their Carabao Cup crown, while FA Cup glory is also a possibility with Bournemouth in the third round coming up.
Winning again would be TWICE as nice!
That first Carabao Cup win was special, but retaining the trophy would be even better. Which would mean more to you? 🤩
No Alexander Isak repeat in the summer
The summer of 2025 was dominated by the Alexander Isak saga.
Isak downed tools at Newcastle, eventually getting his £125millon move to Liverpool on transfer deadline day.
It was a damaging situation that the Magpies are still recovering from, and one that Eddie Howe will not want to repeat in 2026.
That puts the futures of Tino Livramento and Sandro Tonali into focus, two players who have been linked with moves away. Livramento is a target for Manchester City, as talks over a new Toon contract are put on hold.
Howe will be desperate to keep both Livramento and Tonali at St James’ Park, but whether or not that is possible remains to be seen. If it is not, then Newcastle must ensure they at least protect themselves, which they failed to do with Isak.
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