Newcastle’s great start is a sticking plaster to plenty of problems which need fixing

Newcastle United have made a tremendous start to the season, unbeaten, level on points with second placed Arsenal and into the third round of the Carabao Cup.

Results have offered evidence to support the club could well be back among the Champions League contenders this season. Pep Guardiola said as much too in his first press conference of the season.

Although they failed to improve the first team in the summer transfer window, much to everyone’s irritation on Tyneside, the fact they do not have the midweek European games is giving a small but tight group, with unbreakable team spirit, the time to refresh and recharge between fixtures. These are the same circumstances Newcastle finished fourth back in 2023.

A remarkable statistic emerged last weekend that showed, since Eddie Howe’s appointment in November 2021, only Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool have won more league points than Newcastle.

When you consider Howe won just one out of his first nine games in the dugout, when he inherited a winless side that was second from bottom, it highlights what an impressive job the 46-year-old has done as he approaches the end of his third year in charge.

Yet, while Newcastle’s results have been impressive, it is also fair to say they have not played well, offering only flashes of their trademark attacking football. The team has not controlled games, but rather found a way to win them.

It has been a grind but if they can iron out a few early season problems, Newcastle are going to be a real threat in the race to secure at least a top six finish.

Telegraph Sport looks at the most pressing concerns.

Guimaraes poor form for club and country

Newcastle’s best player and the metronome in the centre of midfield, but he has been out of rhythm and the team has lost its fluidity while he has struggled to get into games.

Watching the match against Wolverhampton Wanderers last weekend, although others got the immediate blame – Sean Longstaff gave the ball away and Dan Burn lost his one on one battle with Jorgen Strand Larsson, it was Bruno’s inability to keep up with Joao Gomez that allowed his fellow Brazilian to run unopposed into the area.

That enabled him to draw the defender, where he let the ball run through his legs to give Mario Leimina a simple tap-in at the far post.

Bruno has looked slow and out of shape. He was given the captain’s armband in the summer to show how important he was for the team and although nobody can question his effort or commitment, he has not looked sharp and is well short of his best form.

Newcastle have relied on him so much to set the tempo as an attacking force since he arrived from Lyon in January 2022, that much of the team’s problems in the final third stem from the fact their playmaker is not dictating games.

Bruno has been given a torrid time in the Brazilian media for some lacklustre performances for the national team and appears to be a little low on confidence.

Newcastle have found a way to win without relying on him to manipulate games, but if Howe can get the Brazilian back up to speed, Newcastle can move through the gears and start dominating matches rather than squeezing out narrow victories.

Finding the right midfield combination

It is not just Bruno who has misfired in midfield. It has not clicked as a unit. After a superb performance in the opening day victory over Southampton, Joelinton has been really poor and was hauled off at half-time against Wolves.

Telegraph Sport understands Newcastle’s other Brazilian has been hampered by a groin strain and did not train before the Wolves match, but he has given the ball away repeatedly in dangerous areas and is not making bursting runs forward to help in attack.

With Sandro Tonali available again after his ten month ban, there is a case for dropping both Joelinton and Sean Longstaff for the trip to Fulham this weekend.

That would see Tonali and Joe Willock lining up alongside Bruno. Tonali gives Newcastle more control on the ball. He can take possession in tight areas and his natural instinct is to pass forward rather than sideways, which has the potential to unleash the speed of Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon ahead of him.

The return of Willock is also a huge boost. He offers something completely different to all the other midfielders in the squad, particularly his ability to drive forward with the ball at his feet which sends defences into retreat. Newcastle looked far more dangerous in the final third when he came on as a sub against Wolves.

Howe is fortunate that, at the moment, he has genuine competition for places in midfield and given it has been a weak area of the team so far this season, he can make changes. Many believe that the team has far better balance and carries more of an attacking threat when Willock is in the starting XI.

Isak and the lack of competition at centre forward

There were high hopes on Tyneside that Isak would challenge Erling Haaland for the Premier League’s golden boot. Haaland has already scored nine times for Manchester City, Isak has managed just one goal, a tap-in against Tottenham Hotspur created by the much-maligned Jacob Murphy.

Isak has not looked like his usual self. He has been on the periphery, struggling to get on the end of things, losing the ball and unable to deliver any of his trademark surges through the backline with his quick feet and long, deceptive limbs.

Did the summer speculation that he could be sold – even though it was never going to happen – to Chelsea unsettle the Sweden international? Is the desire for a new contract that will move him level with top earner Bruno playing on his mind? Both things are possible.

The problem could be a more simplistic one. Isak has no competition for his place and with Callum Wilson not expected to return to action until after the October international break, that is not going to change.

While Isak would be first choice, even if the 32-year-old Wilson hadn’t been missing since pre-season with a back injury, he would know he needs to be at his best to keep it that way.

Newcastle signed William Osula from Sheffield United for £12 million in the summer, but the Denmark Under-21 international has not made a single competitive appearance yet.

Newcastle are also not finding their usual penetration in the final third. When Isak went off at half time against Fulham with an eye injury, Anthony Gordon also struggled to touch the ball when moved into a central position.

Isak’s travails are probably as much to do with the team not functioning properly in the final third as they are with his own form.

The good thing for Newcastle is that Isak is too good to be this quiet for long and the team have found a way to win without needing his individual brilliance.

Soothing strained relationship between Howe and Mitchell

This is a relationship that has to work. Telegraph Sport understands that the owners, led by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and Jamie Reuben, are determined to make sure it does.

Reassurances have been given to Howe that he will retain a say in all recruitment decisions, even if the scouting process will be led by Mitchell. He will not have players forced upon him, which would be a red line crossed. There is, as things stand, no desire to go down this route in the boardroom. Howe has the full support of everyone, which he more than deserves given the excellent job he has done.

However, as we revealed back in July, there were problems shortly after Mitchell was appointed. There has been tension and friction. At times, the relationship between sporting director and manager has been a little dysfunctional, but sources insist they have a better understanding of how the other wants to work. They have to communicate better than they have done so far.

Newcastle need to remain united behind the scenes. Talk of a “civil war” at St James’ Park last week was massively overplayed and rightly laughed off by Howe, but it feeds into a narrative that things are not right behind the scenes.

Newcastle are a club that has lived and breathed turmoil and conflict in the past, and whatever wounds were opened during a desperately disappointing summer transfer window, need to be healed.

We are told there is a desire to move on. Howe is happy to be focusing solely on football once more, but everyone needs to be pulling in the same direction in the build up to January. Newcastle will have money to spend If they can maintain their impressive start to the season and add a quality player in a key position of need in the winter, they could well threaten the Champions League places again.