Alan Shearer full of praise for Eddie Howe and this Newcastle United duo | OneFootball

Alan Shearer reflecting after an excellent week for Newcastle United.

Victories over Leicester and Brentford (cup).

Followed up by that 4-0 demolition job at Portman Road.

Six points added in the Premier League and progress to a cup semi-final.

With eleven goals scored and just the one conceded.

Alan Shearer full of praise for Eddie Howe and this Newcastle United duo, after taking the three points against Ipswich Town.

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe revealed he had slightly tweaked his midfield for their 4-0 win over Ipswich Town in his post-match interview with BBC Sport.

Former Magpies striker Alan Shearer analysed the changes, which “helped the whole team” on Match of the Day: “In recent games, Eddie Howe has put Sandro Tonali in the number six role and moved Bruno Guimaraes a little bit further forward to give him a little bit more freedom to get into forward positions.

“It certainly helped both of the players and, more importantly, it helped the team.

“Tonali will sit there in midfield – he is very good at that and I think he feels very important in that role. He is certainly a better player for it because he has the skills to do that.

“A lot of the time, when he gets the ball, within one or two touches he likes and wants to play the ball forward. So for the forward players, that is much better.

“He has to do his work defensively as well and he has certainly done that in recent games.

“The understanding of both Tonali and Guimaraes in their roles was absolutely superb. Sometimes it was Guimaraes getting on the ball and him passing it forward, other times it was Tonali.

“Bruno was very clever in what he had to do in that role. He feels part of it as well because that role is certainly suiting him.”

Ipswich 0 Newcastle 4 – Saturday 21 December 3pm

(Stats via BBC Sport)

Newcastle United:

Isak 1, 45+2, 50, Murphy 32

Ipswich:

(In brackets the half-time stats)

Possession was Newcastle 59% (52%) Ipswich 41% (48%)

Total shots were Newcastle 15 (10) Ipswich 10 (4)

Shots on target were Newcastle 7 (5) Ipswich 2 (1)

Corners were Newcastle 1 (0) Ipswich 2 (1)

Touches in the box Newcastle 35 (20) Ipswich 20 (10)

Dubravka, Livramento (Trippier 64), Schar, Burn, Hall, Tonali, Bruno (Miley 80), Willock (Longstaff 64), Murphy (Barnes 64), Isak (Almiron 73), Gordon

Unused Subs:

Vlachodimos, Targett, Osula, Kelly

(Ipswich 0 Newcastle 4 – Match ratings and comments on all Newcastle United players – Read HERE)

(Ipswich 0 Newcastle 4 – Instant Newcastle United fan/writer reaction – Read HERE)

(Ipswich 0 Newcastle 4 : Absolutely brilliant and Alexander Isak first NUFC hat-trick – Jingle bells! Read HERE)

Newcastle United upcoming matches:

Thursday 26 December – Newcastle v Villa (3pm) Amazon

Monday 30 December – Man U v Newcastle (8pm) Sky Sports

Saturday 4 January – Tottenham v Newcastle (12.30pm) TNT Sports

Week commencing Monday 6 January – Arsenal v Newcastle TBC

Sunday 12 January – Newcastle v Bromley (3pm) BBC iPlayer (FA Cup)

Wednesday 15 January – Newcastle v Wolves (7.30pm) TNT Sports

Saturday 18 January – Newcastle v Bournemouth (12.30pm) TNT Sports

Saturday 25 January – Southampton v Newcastle (3pm)

Saturday 1 February – Newcastle v Fulham (3pm)

Week commencing Monday 3 February – Newcastle v Arsenal TBC