Harvey Barnes has scored three goals for Newcastle United this season and has become a first-team regular, emerging from the shadow cast by Anthony Gordon. After Gordon left for Barcelona, Barnes signed a new long-term contract at Newcastle and has continued to score goals, now as an ever-present in the Premier League.
Barnes has made six starts plus one substitute appearance in all competitions and has scored three goals, leading the way alongside Joe Willock. His current Premier League record shows 48 starts for United and 48 substitute appearances, with league and cup figures of 68 starts and 59 appearances from the bench.
Barnes steps up as elder statesman
With Gordon gone, Barnes now has the opportunity to become an elder statesman of real stature amongst a team of bright young players. He needs to kick on and lead United towards rediscovered stature.
Of all United's blue-chip players who left as the Eddie Howe era faded, Gordon has been the most effectual, performing magnificently for both Barcelona and England. Alexander Isak has yet to hit his Newcastle goal standard at Liverpool, Sandro Tonali has often struggled at Spurs, and Bruno is no longer the main man at Arsenal. Gordon is on another level, but that does not prevent Barnes from making his own mark on Tyneside.
Hall impresses for England
Lewis Hall revived his club partnership with Gordon to devastating effect with England during the international break and is threatening to produce a similar partnership with Barnes at United this season. Hall has impressed for England, starring three times and drawing praise from Thomas Tuchel.
Hall had called playing for England "a heavy shirt" which requires players to be at their best because there is a lot at stake. Sky pundit and former Spurs and Aston Villa boss Tim Sherwood responded by saying Hall should "keep his mouth shut". Sherwood said: "I don't like the honesty. I think he should keep his mouth shut when he's talking about heavy shirts because I think the manager is looking at that and thinking 'is it heavy just for him?'"
Hall's attitude to his World Cup disappointment has been exemplary at both club and international level. He has stayed steadfast, refusing to seek a way out at Newcastle and refusing to dwell on his England setback.
Window of opportunity before tough run
Newcastle face a window of opportunity after their enforced rest, with matches at Coventry, followed by Aston Villa (h), Crystal Palace (a), Everton (h) and Fulham (a). That is five matches with points-collecting possibilities before four testers approaching Christmas: Arsenal (h), Brighton (a), Manchester United (h) and Sunderland (h).
Manchester United are the weakest link, with their biggest threat being their name and historical reputation rather than the team itself. Newcastle travel to Coventry on the fifth anniversary of their takeover, searching for their 300th league point since that day. They currently stand at 186 league games played, 85 won, and 42 drawn, for a total of 297 points. Three more are required.
