It felt like world-ending stakes were wrought upon Newcastle United this summer, with Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali and Eddie Howe and, finally, captain Bruno Guimaraes all drawing time on their Toon journeys.
The ship has steadied so far this season, but after five games in the Premier League, it’s clear that the Magpies are a distance from their apex under Howe’s wing, marching into the Champions League two times across three seasons, beating Liverpool to lift the Carabao Cup in 2025.
Newcastle’s Premier League Rise | ||
|---|---|---|
Season | Points | Final Position |
26/27 | 8 | 9th |
25/26 | 49 | 12th |
24/25 | 66 | 5th |
23/24 | 60 | 7th |
22/23 | 71 | 4th |
21/22 | 49 | 11th |
What is the objective this season? Stability and a pathway forward, surely. Much needs to happen over the coming months and years, though, with plenty hinging on the success of marquee signing Matias Fernandez-Pardo.
Why Newcastle signed Fernandez-Pardo
This summer, Newcastle spent ages trying, fruitlessly, to convince top targets to join the project on Tyneside. Eventually, they prevailed with Fernandez-Pardo, an attacker who St. James’ Park executive Ross Wilson said was at the top of the shopping list from the get-go.
The Belgian winger signed for a £51m fee, leaving behind a fledgling career with LOSC Lille in France which had propelled him into some lofty conversations: Newcastle writer Pete Davey hailed him as an “exciting Gordon replacement” when mooted with a move to Tyneside over the summer.
His pace and power and potency does make for exciting reading. Fernandez-Pardo, 22 years old, has what it takes to step in for Gordon and grow into a focal role in Jaissle’s aggressive system.
In Ligue 1 last year, he scored eight goals and supplied five assists. When firing on all cylinders, he tore defenders to shreds.
But the Premier League is a different ballpark, and Fernandez-Pardo is struggling one month into his Newcastle career.
Why Fernandez-Pardo is struggling
First and foremost, let’s not blow things out of proportion. This is an exciting young attacker still finding his way at the start of his Premier League career.
However, he needs to improve. Perhaps one of the critical points of contention at this early stage is the player’s insistence on his best area being centre-forward. However, might he instead be better suited to the wing?
So far, at No. 9 or thereabouts, he has flattered to deceive. So far, he ranks among the bottom 10% of players in his position for passes completed, pass completion, touches and defensive contributions per 90. He also ranks poorly for chances created, and has not scored or assist.
Having played only three times in the Premier League, starting just twice, it’s obviously far too early to make any definitive assessment on Fernandez-Pardo, who is young and raw and stepping into a Newcastle system which is young and raw and shaky.
Matias Fernandez-Pardo – Career Stats by Position | ||
|---|---|---|
Position | Apps | Goals + Assists |
Centre-forward | 34 | 17 + 6 |
Left winger | 25 | 5 + 3 |
Right winger | 7 | 0 + 2 |
Attacking midfield | 3 | 0 + 0 |
But he does need to be more combative, get more involved when Newcastle have the ball and are building toward something. You can have all the pace in the world, but if you aren’t battling with intensity, the Premier League will swallow you up.
Let’s hold our horses. There’s plenty of time for this talented forward to make his mark. But, conversely, Jaissle will be aware that he has alternative options to choose from out wide.
Newcastle could already have a Fernandez-Pardo replacement
WIth Yoane Wissa resurgent and William Osula working back toward fitness after picking up an injury at the start of the season, Fernandez-Pardo will lose his place at centre-forward before long.
But he may also struggle to break in on the left wing. Harvey Barnes has made a strong start to the season, and Bazoumana Toure has impressed across his sporadic appearances so far.
There is also another lesser-known name who would fancy their chances on the major stage. Meet Trevan Sanusi, a 19-year-old academy winger who is showing the physicality, athleticism and on-the-ball skill to become a superstar for Newcastle.
Hailed as “unplayable” by content creator TomTalksToon after obliterating Non League side Tamsworth for the U21s, Sanusi has the natural skill to become a first-team regular with the Magpies.
A loan spell with Lorient in France last season yielded mixed results. He failed to break into the first team but gained some invaluable early experience, primarily with the development squad but scoring and assisting across two matches with the senior set-up, during a 7-0 Coupe de France win over lower-league AS Gosier.
Jaissle has already shown a willingness to get the younger members of the Newcastle persuasion involved. He hopes to establish them and create lanes running clearly through to the first team.
Sanusi could be the perfect way to spearhead that charge. He is thriving for the U21s, and if Newcastle’s expensive attacking parts fail to come together this season, why not throw him into the mix, potentially sparking something special? In the Premier League 2 this term, he ranks inside the top 5% of positional peers for assists, shots taken and dribbles completed. Defensively, he leaves something to be desired, but that can be improved upon.
It’s far too premature to suggest Fernandez-Pardo will never make it in English football, but there’s certainly a case to be made that he could be overtaken by a number of his positional rivals at Newcastle, should he fail to click into gear over the coming months.
Sanusi is doing all the right things as he pushes for his own breakthrough.
Source: www.footballfancast.com
