MAKING ED WAY

Europe is back in Howe’s sights

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CONFIDENCE is slowly returning. Players are coming back from injury, and qualifying for Europe is back on the agenda.

Head coach Eddie Howe knows Newcastle need to play on the European stage every season. For prestige, profile and attracting transfer targets.

The Champions League is out of reach, but the Geordies are shaping up for a Euro charge after coming through the dark days of a winter crisis.

After being thrashed 4-1 by Arsenal nine days ago, Newcastle reached the last eight of the FA Cup and tonked Wolves. It’s just one defeat in eight games now for Howe’s men.

And he and his coaching team were relaxed about Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann being linked with his job last week. He knows he’s secure as long as he’s maximising results.

And it was his clever tactical tweak which sucked Wolves out, surrendered a bit of possession, and hit them on the break for all three goals.

It shored up the back line for a first clean sheet in 10 games in the league and Howe said: “The world does look different. I said to the players afterwards that Arsenal was only seven days ago.

“That shows how quickly football can turn, as long as the players are giving everything. Against Arsenal, we weren’t at our best. We tried to dust ourselves down and regroup and refocus on our key qualities. I’m delighted with the response.

“Confidence can ebb and flow, from individuals and the team. But towards the end of the game, we started to see the confidence flow back into the group.”

Bruno Guimaraes continues to excel, Alexander Isak poached his goal from Guimaraes’ deflected shot. Anthony Gordon reached double figures for goals with three in his last four games. Tino Livramento went on a 60m sprint to dribble into the six-yard box and finish for the third.

Howe said of Guimaraes: “Bruno had moments where he really showed his class.”

NEWCASTLE (4-3-3): Dubravka 7; Trippier 7 (Livramento 52, 6), Schar 7, Botman7, Burn 7; Longstaff 6, Guimaraes 7, Willock 7 (Miley 70, 6); Murphy 7 (Almiron 69, 6), Isak 7 (Barnes 69, 6), Gordon 7 (Anderson 90)

WOLVES (3-4-2-1): Sa 5 (Bentley 46, 6); Kilman 5, Dawson 6, Totti 6 (Bueno 61, 6); Nelson Semedo 6 , Lemina 6 (Traore 81), Doyle 6, Ait-nouri 6; Sarabia 6, Bellegarde 7 (Chirewa 81); Neto 5 (Fraser 46, 6)