Newcastle Toons
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Newcastle are falling into same trap as Wolves, Leeds, Villa, and Palace

By Durim Halimi

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 27: Callum Wilson of Newcastle United scores the first Newcastle goal during the during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Newcastle United at Selhurst Park on November 27, 2020 in London, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Newcastle United/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 27: Callum Wilson of Newcastle United scores the first Newcastle goal during the during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Newcastle United at Selhurst Park on November 27, 2020 in London, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Newcastle United/Getty Images) /
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Newcastle United need more production from their midfielders.

Newcastle United managed to snap their two-game losing streak with two late goals from Callum Wilson and Joelinton against Crystal Palace on Friday night.

The three points came at a perfect time as the Magpies now enjoy a nine point cushion from the bottom three, and are only one win away from breaking into the top ten.

The next few games will be difficult, though, as Newcastle United will be going up against Aston Villa (A), West Brom (H), Leeds United (A), and Fulham (H). The games against West Brom and Fulham will not be walks in the park, but Newcastle United will be expected to handle business against them.

Aston Villa and Leeds United, on the other hand, are capable of steamrolling Steve Bruce’s men with their attack-first style of play, but it will all come down to the tactics Bruce decides to deploy. When looking at the squad, Callum Wilson is carrying the Toon with seven goals and two assists this season.

The Magpies have only scored 12 goals in their first 10 games, and with Wilson being directly involved in nine of those goals the England international has been directly involved in 75% of the team’s goals. It is great for the club to finally have a clinical finisher on their payroll, but that ratio is way too high.

Newcastle United have become too dependent on one player for all the goals, and that is setting them up for the same trap that Crystal Palace, Leeds United, Wolves, and Aston Villa have fallen into. What do I mean by that?

None of those teams pose major threats for opponents in the final third if you take players like Wilfried Zaha, Patrick Bamford, Raul Jimenez, and Jack Grealish out of the equation.

Bruce needs to get that message across to his players as more midfielders need to step up their game and contribute regularly, especially Allan Saint-Maximin and Miguel Almiron as the duo only have one goal and two assists this term.

A positive sign is that the other goals this season, except for the own goal scored by Manchester United, have all come from midfielders, but the target should be for multiple to players across that middle line to find the back of the net five or six times over the course of the season.

Wilson has proven multiple times this season that he just needs one clean look at goal to make the difference in a game, especially late in games, but one long-term injury is all it would take for the Magpies to drag themselves back into the relegation discussion.

Newcastle will benefit from player in new role. dark. Next

Wilson being on fire at the moment is exactly what Newcastle United need from their primary striker, but he needs a lot more support.