Newcastle United’s manager Eddie Howe expressed his satisfaction following the team’s 2-0 Champions League victory against Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday night.
Match Overview
The game saw Newcastle clinch the win with goals scored by Dan Burn and Joelinton.
Coach’s Insights
Regarding Burn’s goal, Howe remarked:
It was a move we practiced on the training ground, so kudos to the coaching staff involved. It was a well-executed routine.
Technically speaking, this could be better than the Carabao Cup final goal, but it will be challenging for him to replicate something as magical and unforgettable as that.
However, regarding the technical prowess of his header, it was an outstanding finish. We need to capitalize more on set-pieces, and I hope this is a promising start for us.
Howe also expressed his delight in giving Lewis Hall playing time in the second half as he made his return from injury.
The manager stated:
I had intended to give him some minutes. While you can’t make any promises, it was always in my plans to use him today; I held back during the West Ham game since he had only one training session under his belt. After all the effort he’s put in to come back, we don’t want to risk him now.
I felt it was an appropriate moment to introduce him, and I thought he performed admirably, which pleased me greatly.
We still need to be cautious about his playing time for the time being, but he is making positive strides in regaining his rhythm and adjusting to the pitch dimensions and geography necessary for him to deliver his best performances.