This means Newcastle United are now looking up once again | OneFootball

It has taken some time coming for Newcastle United.

Saturday seeing the now ‘traditional’ winners photograph after the match.

The starting eleven, the subs, the head coach, the rest of the coaching staff, indeed everybody, posing in the group shot after the 4-1 win at Fulham

Exactly eight weeks to the day since the last such Newcastle United group photo was taken after a Premier League win, the opening day of the season against Forest.

It was a game worth waiting for.

Most importantly of course, it got Newcastle United back on the win trail, hopefully the start of better times ahead.

As you can see, Newcastle United now moving up to seventh and the club finally able to start looking up the league once again.

With five draws in the previous six games, there was a sense of NUFC feeling a bit adrift, not really heading anywhere, up or down.

However, whilst those performances deserved more points, what they did ensure was that there was still a reasonable platform there to launch from, if the team could find the winning thread again.

The draws made sure Newcastle United stayed around the middle of the table, plus of course denied the likes of Brighton and others the wins that would have taken them further away from NUFC.

Looking at the seven Premier League fixtures (see below) that remain ahead of the break for the World Cup and indeed take us up to Christmas, three of the next five PL matches are home games against Brentford, Everton and Villa. Nine points have to be targeted there and the away trip to Southampton that is the penultimate match before the World Cup break, also sees NUFC facing a team that are currently struggling.

The other three fixtures are against ‘Big Six’ Man Utd, Tottenham and Chelsea.

Newcastle United have already shown a new ambitious streak this season under Eddie Howe, a readiness to have a real attacking threat, even against the likes of Man City and Liverpool.

With Eddie Howe indicating that the likes of Targett, Joelinton and ASM should be in the matchday squad next Saturday and also making clear that the Alexander Isak injury isn’t serious, Newcastle United can now launch a real go at potentially breaking higher up that table and into the top six, by the time the Qatar World Cup finals come about.

Man City and Haaland are clearly a class act and way ahead of the rest, but Newcastle United have already given them a real game and arguably should have won. Credit to Arsenal because they are looking very credible runner-up to Man City this season BUT it was only May when Newcastle United completely took them apart at St James’ Park.

There is nothing to fear, nothing to stop Newcastle United now having that real go at the places above. As we have already seen, there are quite literally no easy games this season BUT there also aren’t any where it is impossible to see NUFC not giving anybody a game and potentially picking up points. Maybe Man City away is the exception BUT to be honest, I will be looking forward to seeing how Eddie Howe approaches even that one, especially if he has the likes of Wilson, Isak, Bruno, ASM and Joelinton all available.

Saturday 8 October – Newcastle v Brentford (3pm)

Sunday 16 October – Man Utd v Newcastle (2pm)

Wednesday 19 October – Newcastle v Everton (7.30pm) Amazon Prime

Sunday 23 October – Tottenham v Newcastle (4.30pm) Sky Sports

Saturday 29 October – Newcastle v Aston Villa (3pm)

Sunday 6 November – Southampton v Newcastle (2pm) Sky Sports

Wednesday 9 November, Newcastle v Crystal Palace (7.45pm) League Cup third round

Saturday 12 November – Newcastle v Chelsea (5.30pm) Sky Sports