The October international break is over and it’s been a successful one for Newcastle United.
Eddie Howe will be relieved that, other than Lewis Miley’s slight knock, none of his stars appear to have picked up any injuries during the important October international break.
Newcastle United can’t afford to lose any more of their most important players, especially with a tough trip to Brighton looming on the horizon this coming weekend.
With World Cup qualifying reaching a fever pitch, the break was crucial for many nations and most of Newcastle’s jet-setting stars had a good time.
Though not all of them. Here are the winners and losers from the past week.
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Newcastle United winners in the October international break
Anthony Gordon – England
Things couldn’t have gone much better for Anthony Gordon in England’s two dominant victories over Wales and Latvia, with the Three Lions becoming the first European team to seal their spot in the World Cup.
Gordon started both matches and earned plaudits for his display against Wales before doing even better in the qualifier in Riga.
England ran out 5-0 winners but it was Gordon who scored the opener with a fine solo effort. He didn’t just play well in both games; he might have played his way into a starting spot in North America as well.
Bruno Guimaraes – Brazil
There wasn’t anything on the line for Brazil as they have long qualified for the World Cup, but the players are working to impress new boss Carlo Ancelotti and secure a space in his squad.
Bruno Guimaraes’ seat on the plane was never in doubt but he certainly ensured his starting place in the friendlies against South Korea and Japan.
Guimaraes picked up two sublime assists with fantastic throughballs from distance into the box. Newcastle’s wingers need to start making the same runs for him so he can start doing that at St. James’ Park.
Nick Woltemade – Germany
Nick Woltemade came close to falling into the loser column after his first game for Germany this past week.
Woltemade came in for criticism from the German press for failing to score in his first five international appearances, with the latest blank coming in the 4-0 win over Luxembourg.
Julian Nagelsmann rushed to Woltemade’s defence and backed the striker to start scoring, which he duly did.
Woltemade scored the only goal as Germany defeated Northern Ireland in a tight and competitive qualifier in Belfast, a vital win for his country.
His fine form has continued and hopefully it will do so back in England, too.
Newcastle United losers in the October international break
Anthony Elanga – Sweden
Not many nations had a more disastrous international break than Sweden.
With Alexander Isak still not fully fit after refusing to play for Newcastle to force through his Liverpool transfer, Sweden suffered as they were defeated by Switzerland and Kosovo at home.
Manager Jon Dahl Tomasson has become the first Sweden manager ever to be sacked as a result, and they are in severe danger of missing out on a second World Cup in a row.
Anthony Elanga was left on the bench in the first game before coming on at half-time in the second, but could do little to change the result.
Swedish media lambasted Elanga’s ‘careless’ display and he was heard criticising his former manager’s system in the tunnel after the game.
Joelinton – Brazil
Unlike his teammate Guimaraes, Joelinton didn’t stake a claim to get into Ancelotti’s starting XI.
The burly midfielder was left on the bench for the 5-0 thrashing of South Korea but did come on for the final half hour against Japan, with his side winning 2-1.
Yet, within 14 minutes of his introduction, Japan turned the game around to go 3-2 up and deal Brazil a historic defeat. Not ideal for Joelinton to be on the pitch for that.
Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento – England
Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento weren’t in action this international break as both are sidelined with significant injuries, but it still wasn’t a good one for them.
Following the 5-0 win over Serbia last month, England have now seemingly clicked under Thomas Tuchel and are playing some exciting football. The manager appears to be settling on his team, with Djed Spence and Myles Lewis-Skelly laying a claim to the full-back positions.
There are still months for Hall and Livramento to get back fit and challenge for those spots, but there aren’t many international fixtures left to impress Tuchel in, and the duo are unlikely to be fit for the November international break.
Their chances of making the World Cup have drastically reduced.
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