While Newcastle’s Gulf state derby against PSG is not strictly a must-win game for the Premier League side, it is certainly must-not-lose to maintain hopes of progressing to the Big Cup knockout stages. Having smashed their French hosts 4-1 in the corresponding fixture at St James’ Park, Newcastle fans would have every right to feel confident in Paris if their squad wasn’t so decimated by injuries and suspensions. The list of absentees is so long that celebrity Toon fans Ant and Dec would almost certainly get a game if they weren’t making an even bigger show of themselves in Australia helping to rehabilitate the reputation of a despicable, dinghy-obsessed demagogue.
Although Newcastle have a whopping 12 senior players unavailable, Howe might not have to resort to calling up Sting, Sam Fender and Jimmy Nail, as only three of that dozen – Sandro Tonali, Dan Burn and Sean Longstaff – are among their current crop of lame, halt or banned that started in the team that battered PSG last time out. Much like when they humbled Chelsea, Newcastle’s starting XI will be more than strong enough but it’s on the bench where they’ll be conspicuously light on experience but not, if the weekend was anything to go by, cherubic academy graduates and gloved up substitute goalkeepers.
It is here Newcastle’s shortage of experienced personnel could cost them, considering how much effort Howe’s side were forced to expend against Chelsea only three days ago. “If you’ve seen the last match Newcastle played, yes, physically, it’s really incredible,” gasped PSG manager Luis Enrique. “They’re very strong, they’re able to press hard and very high, there’s so much intensity. Six players are putting so much pressure, they can pressure like eight players at the same time and this intensity and pressure in their game is something that we need to be prepared for.” Asked if this was a defining moment in Newcastle’s campaign and whether or not they were going to give it everything, Howe was unequivocal. “This is a defining moment in our campaign and we are going to give it everything,” he said in his pre-match press pow-wow. “We are going to need to be as good as we know we can be. The motivation couldn’t be bigger. It’s imperative we don’t lose. Fear of failure is a major motivation in my career. Losing doesn’t sit comfortably with me and that applies to this match.”
In Paris to tick off the latest mini-break destination on their Big Cup bingo cards, some travelling Newcastle fans were subjected to an unprovoked attack by a gang of PSG ultras as they got their drink on in a Boulogne-Billancourt watering hole, although the flare-up is reported to have been brief and no serious injuries were reported. “A group of around 30 PSG fans turned up, stood outside, threw a flare and chairs etc at the windows and doors,” reported a Newcastle United Supporters’ Club spokesperson. “Nobody was majorly hurt and then they left. The advice is for everyone to stick together and look after each other.” In the face of a potential onslaught from Kolo Muani, Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé, it is advice Newcastle’s makeshift back-four might also do well to heed.
It’s a big one in Paris. Photograph: AFP/Getty Images
Photograph: Carl Recine/Reuters
