Newcastle United ‘higher-profile’ shirt sponsor plus St James's Park stadium expansion plans – Q&A

Our Newcastle United writers Miles Starforth and Dominic Scurr answer the latest questions surrounding Newcastle United…

How would you assess Newcastle's recent big wins over Brentford and Fulham?

MS: Deserved. Newcastle went into the Fulham game feeling that they hadn’t quite got the points return they had deserved from their first seven fixtures. The return of Callum Wilson at Craven Cottage, and the availability of Bruno Guimaraes following an injury scare while on international duty, was very important for the team. United are now getting the results their performances deserve.

DS: With the way Newcastle have been playing and the chances they’ve been creating this season, it was only a matter of time before they picked up a big win. But Eddie Howe’s side have gone one further and picked up consecutive big wins, scoring nine goals in the process. While both results were thoroughly deserved, the most encouraging thing is that it still feels like they can still take things up a level or two.

Where does Bruno Guimaraes rank among Newcastle's all-time great midfielders at this early stage?

MS: It’s obviously too early to make too many comparisons, but it’s hard to think of too many players in the 20-odd years I’ve been covering the club who have made a similar interest. Kieran Trippier’s a world-class player, and Guimaraes is heading towards that bracket. He’s got everything. Guimaraes is a technically-gifted player with tremendous vision, passing ability and athleticism. He can win the ball, and his goals record, so far, is phenomenal. I’m not sure United have had a midfielder quite like him in the Premier League era.

DS: Looking at Guimaraes’ performances in isolation since he arrived at Newcastle, he is the best midfielder I’ve seen play for the club in terms of pure ability, albeit with a very small sample size. I would argue he is already world class and good enough to walk into any Premier League side at the moment, something we haven’t been able to say about a Newcastle player in over 20 years.

What was it like speaking to Dan Ashworth and Darren Eales this week?

MS: Firstly, after the silence of the Mike Ashley years, it was good to see senior executives face the media and speak openly after their plans for the club. Long may this continue. Eales, clearly, is passionate about the job he has taken, and his track record speaks for itself. He looks to be an astute appointment. Ashworth spoke with great clarity, and his role is central to the project at the club. He can put the structures and pathways in place on the footballing side to ensure long-term success.

What is the latest on the sponsorship front for Newcastle?

MS: What we know is that the “long-term deal” the club signed with FUN88 deal will end early at the end of the season. We can expect a new, higher-profile shirt sponsor for the 2023/24 season which will bring in more revenue than the present deal with FUN88.

DS: Last week, Newcastle majority owners PIF released accounts showing that over £2billion had been invested by its portfolio companies into football sponsorship. The majority of this was into Saudi Arabian football, but hopefully it's a sign of things to come at Newcastle as they eye a new shirt sponsor.

What about the stadium plans?

MS: The club’s clear about its intention to stay at St James’s Park, and, if possible, increase the capacity of the stadium given the demand for tickets. This will be easier said than done, especially given that the club no longer owns the land at Strawberry Place. That said, the will is there to increase capacity at the stadium, one way or another, and I’m hopeful that we’ll one day see an expanded St James’s Park.

What is the injury latest heading into Manchester United?

MS: The pool of players available for the game is more or less the same as lask weekend. Alexander Isak won’t be available, and the striker may not be back for next week’s two fixtures. Jonjo Shelvey is “close” to a return, according to Howe.

DS: Manchester United will be without Harry Maguire, Donny van de Beek and Aaron Wan-Bissaka this weekend while a late call will be made on Anthony Martial. Scott McTominay is also suspended while Martin Dubravka is ineligible to feature against his parent club.

Should Allan Saint-Maximin start at Old Trafford?

MS: That’s a tough one, as Jacob Murphy’s done well in the past two games. But Saint-Maximin, unquestionably, would add something to Howe’s starting XI, and, given his form before his injury, there’s a compelling case to start him at Old Trafford.

DS: It’s hard to argue against a side that has scored nine goals in two matches without Saint-Maximin starting. Having said that, Manchester United is a different test to Fulham or Brentford and Newcastle should name their strongest possible XI, which includes Saint-Maximin.

How important is the next week in Newcastle's season?

MS: I think this next week offers the sixth-placed club a chance to consolidate its position in the league. Newcastle, only beaten once so far this season, have had a good start to the season, and a couple of results in this three-game sequence would set the team up for a demanding run of games ahead of the World Cup.

DS: We’re at the quarter point in the season now already and these next three games won’t define it, but they could help set the tone in which Newcastle head into the World Cup break. Facing Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur either side of a home game against Everton is a difficult week on paper. Two of those sides occupy the positions Newcastle are hoping to break into. In order for them to do that this season, they ought to be picking up results against them.