Newcastle Eye Progress in Champions League Return Under Howe | OneFootball

Newcastle United head into the 2025/26 season full of optimism, looking to build on last year’s impressive progress.

Eddie Howe’s side turned a lack of European football into their advantage to secure Champions League qualification for the second time in three years.

It wasn’t smooth or pretty as they narrowly edged out Aston Villa for the final qualifying spot, courtesy of a superior goal difference alone. But it was enough.

More importantly, Howe inspired Newcastle to their first piece of major domestic silverware since 1955, beating Liverpool 2-1 in the League Cup final.

With Europe’s premier competition returning to St James’ Park, expectations are skyrocketing, but it’s hard to erase the memory of the 2023/24 campaign.

That was the last time the Magpies had to juggle between the Champions League and Premier League, and it didn’t turn out well as they slumped to a seventh-place finish.

Howe will try not to repeat the same mistake this time, despite a lack of big-name signings during the summer transfer window.

Here is our Newcastle season preview for 2025/26.

Newcastle United Fixtures

Newcastle’s start to the new campaign could hardly be more revenge-driven than with an away match against Villa, the side they edged out in last season’s race for Champions League qualification.

Their first home game of the season has all the makings of a blockbuster, as reigning champions Liverpool visit St James’ Park in round two, seeking retribution for their League Cup heartbreak.

An eternal rivalry between Leeds United and the Magpies awaits its newest chapter, with the two sides locking horns at Elland Road in late August. The reverse fixture takes place on Tyneside in early January.

Encounters against Arsenal (H) and Manchester City (A) will be Newcastle’s most challenging tasks between late September and the start of December, when they host Tottenham Hotspur.

Howe’s charges meet Manchester United in a standout Boxing Day fixture and close the calendar year away to newly promoted Burnley before kicking things off in 2026 at home to Crystal Palace.

A trip to Anfield is scheduled for late January, followed by a visit to Man City in mid-February. March brings a tough run with Manchester United at home and Chelsea away.

The Magpies’ season concludes at Fulham.

Manager

Newcastle had been waiting to reach the Champions League main draw for two decades before Howe ended that drought in 2022/23, leading them to a fourth-place finish in the Premier League.

He has accomplished that feat twice now, even though his position in the dugout has not always felt secure, especially amid the team’s substandard form at the start of last season.

After weathering the storm, the 47-year-old managed to steady the ship and solidify his status at St James’ Park, achieving that success without overstepping financial rules.

Unlike other Saudi Arabian-led clubs, the Magpies have not been prone to reckless spending under Howe, who appears to have consistently known what it takes to build a competitive team without overspending.

Howe’s ability to get the best out of his squad in high-octane moments could be his defining strength, but Newcastle’s fluctuating form remains the one challenge he has yet to address.

Transfers

Anthony Elanga is Newcastle’s marquee signing this summer. They paid Nottingham Forest around £55 million to bring the Swedish winger to Tyneside.

However, the former Man Utd forward may not be the only high-profile acquisition at St James’ Park as the club pushes forward with their efforts to sign Brentford star Yoane Wissa.

Newcastle’s interest in Wissa could be the club’s response to persistent talks linking Alexander Isak with a mega-money transfer to Liverpool, although the two deals aren’t mutually exclusive.

Meanwhile, Antonio Cordero has joined the Premier League giants from Malaga on a Bosman transfer to provide competition at left-back.

Aaron Ramsdale has arrived from Southampton on a season-long loan to replace Martin Dubravka, who left for Burnley.

On the outgoing front, veteran centre-forward Callum Wilson cut ties with the Magpies after failing to earn a new contract before joining West Ham United.

In addition to Wilson, Newcastle offloaded Sean Longstaff to Leeds United for a reported fee of £12m.

Lloyd Kelly has completed a permanent switch to Juventus after moving to Turin last February, with the Bianconeri forking out €17.5 million to clinch the deal.

Starting XI

Howe’s well-documented tactical flexibility saw Newcastle switch from his preferred 4-3-3 formation to different variations of a 3-4-3 set-up amid a severe injury crisis last season.

Now that he has all key players fit and ready, the ex-Bournemouth boss will likely revert to his trusted system, with Nick Pope as the starting goalkeeper.

Vice-captain Kieran Trippier should be the first-choice right-back, while Tino Livramento continues to make strides on the opposite flank, leapfrogging Dan Burn in the pecking order.

Fabian Schar and Sven Botman are the likeliest centre-back pairing.

Howe has seldom deviated from his regular midfield trio. Joelinton, Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali form the core of his engine room, with some sporadic inclusions of Joe Willock and Lewis Miley.

Anthony Gordon has nailed down the left wing as his own, leaving Harvey Barnes and Jacob Murphy to fight for a place on the opposite flank.

However, Elanga should take that role this term.

Isak will be the leading goalscoring threat unless he joins Liverpool towards the end of the summer.

Star Player

You’d expect Isak to be here, but his uncertain future requires Newcastle to find a new talisman.

Gordon has the quality and determination to step up and fill that role, as he often carried the Magpies in big matches last term.

Yet, there’s one crucial difference between the two.

Isak was scoring for fun, while Gordon gained notoriety for wasteful finishing despite his remarkable ability to beat his markers.

If Gordon can improve his composure in front of goal, he could become the dependable offensive force Howe may desperately need in 2025/26.

Prediction

Replicating last season’s fifth-place finish could prove easier said than done, especially if they fail to keep hold of Isak.

Newcastle benefited from Man Utd and Tottenham’s fall from grace, but they cannot rely on others doing them favours again this season.

In addition to facing formidable domestic competition, Howe’s side must also contend with a more demanding schedule now that they’re back in the Champions League.

Another top-five finish in the league table looks unlikely, although a place in other European competitions should be within the Magpies’ reach.

Predicted finish: 7th.

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Read Next: Our full Premier League 2025/26 preview (with links to all individual Premier League team previews).