The Chronicle (South Tyneside and Durham)
Main man Barkley is looking like the one that got away
EDDIE Howe has been crying out for a number 6 for most of the season at Newcastle United – but was the man who caused the damage at St James’ Park a signing that got away?
Ross Barkley struggled to find a club after being released by Nice last summer and was offered around all the top clubs including Newcastle, even sharing the same agency as Eddie Howe.
But Luton were the only takers in the top flight and Barkley is repaying them for their faith after proving to be the “heartbeat” of their team.
Only Kieran Trippier (96) managed more touches than Barkley’s 79 for the Hatters with the former Everton and England star running the midfield battle for long periods.
Barkley once scored one of the best goals of his career at St James’ Park after zig-zagging through Alan Pardew’s team in 2014 for Everton on his way to England honours.
But Barkley, who says he is a “6 to an 8” these days, is very much a mature pass master at 30 – and a low-mileage one after some wasted years on the benches of Chelsea, Nice and Aston Villa.
With Sandro Tonali banned, he would have been the perfect older head to throw into Howe’s midfield this season.
However, hindsight is a wonderful thing in football and it is little wonder there were neutral fans calling for an England recall for the Liverpool-born star after the 4-4 draw with Newcastle.
His manager Rob Edwards had said: “He’s an artist, really. You’ve got to allow him a little bit to go and do his stuff.”
After scoring a goal and an assist at St James’ Park, Barkley managed to haunt Newcastle once again. It won’t be long before Luton are attempting to extend Barkley’s contract.
Chief Newcastle writer moment in the second half in which Chiedozie Ogbene raced past him before conceding a penalty, Burn was then taken off.
But Burn, as always, made his way around the pitch and applauded supporters regardless showing his appreciation in the aftermath.
A key man in the dressing room and a key man on the field, having played a stormer at Aston Villa only last Tuesday, Burn is likely to stay in the team against Nottingham Forest next weekend.
IT WAS STILL A GREAT WEEK FOR UNITED
PUTTING aside some defensive issues against Luton Town, many would have taken the final outcome of last week had they been offered it.
It started with a 2-0 win at Fulham in the FA Cup to book a date with Blackburn in the last 16. Then came the outstanding 3-1 win at Villa in midweek.
And it finished with a point against a Luton side that demolished Brighton & Hove Albion just days earlier. Had many been offered four points from six and a place in the next round of the Cup, they’d have surely taken it without hesitation.