Anthony Elanga dealt cruel injury blow as Newcastle United curse continues
Matthias Jaissle must now devise a plan for the right flank to mask Newcastle United’s shortcomings in the transfer market.
A curse was long believed by many to have been placed on Newcastle United’s elusive quest for silverware. Eddie Howe, Dan Burn, the now detested Alexander Isak and nine other Wembley warriors finally broke it.
In recent times, fans could be forgiven for thinking another spell is gripping the right-wing position at St James’ Park. Miguel Almiron’s purple patch aside, nobody appears to have pinned the position down since Hatem Ben Arfa.
Even the mercurial Frenchman, as gifted as he was, became marred by discipline issues and fall-outs that eventually led to his Toon demise. Akin to the Defence Against the Dark Arts gig in Harry Potter, the right-wing spot for Newcastle is on the brink of becoming a poisoned chalice.
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Anthony Elanga is the latest to fall victim, appearing to banish his debut-season hoodoo with two goals against Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur. He is now injured - and the noises from Newcastle do not sound good.
"With Anthony Elanga, it's obvious that he struggles with an injury," Matthias Jaissle told reporters. "We need to further investigate how serious it is. But at the moment it doesn't look that good. It could be long term. He will get another MRI next week and we will see."
The news effectively placed Leeds United one-nil up before a ball was kicked on Monday. Elanga, with blistering pace like few others in the Premier League, is tailor-made for Jaissle’s “vertical football” style.
The options to replace him are in thin supply. Jacob Murphy was given the nod despite a poor showing at Millwall six days earlier.
Newcastle fans debated whether snubbing a £15million deadline-day offer from Nottingham Forest was the right call. Those taking the view that Murphy should have been sold were justified at Elland Road. He offered nothing.
If Jaissle turns elsewhere, he will follow the blueprint of those who preceded him. Whether it be Moussa Sissoko, Ayoze Perez or even Harvey Barnes last season, Newcastle have a knack for shoehorning players onto the right flank.
Barnes is a possibility. The 28-year-old has scored goals from either side and his technical limitations hardly make him indispensable on the left.
Bazoumana Toure netted a consolation against Leeds and is the man fans are screaming for. Having cost £43million in the summer, Jaissle should not fear throwing him into the action.
The German could even get creative. Matias Fernandez-Pardo wants to play up front but, at 21 and adapting to a new league, is he the man to lead the line? A spell out wide might prove beneficial.
Or what about Tino Livramento, who famously dazzled on the wing in a Carabao Cup win at Old Trafford in 2023? Ultimately, these suggestions lead to the same conclusion: Newcastle should have fixed this issue in the summer.
The high-profile outgoings left gaps to fill. Nico Gonzalez and Amar Dedic, in particular, were essential additions. Fernandez-Pardo - despite his wishes to play as a No.9 - was profiled as an Anthony Gordon’s replacement.
But the Magpies left the right flank open for a potentially season-crippling blow. It has already arrived just four weeks in.
A gamble on two widemen - one devoid of confidence and the other lacking ability - has backfired. The onus is now on Jaissle to devise a plan that can mask Newcastle’s transfer blunder.
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