The winger is beginning to present the shape that persuade United to pay £55m for his providers final summer time
Newcastle United’s Anthony Elanga shoots below stress from Barcelona’s Joao Cancelo(Image: Getty Images)
Anthony Elanga should be relishing subsequent week’s Champions League second leg in opposition to Barcelona within the Nou Camp. After all, he is saved two of his finest performances in a black-and-white shirt up to now for the Spanish giants.
There weren’t many dissenting voices final July when Newcastle forked out £55m for the ex-Nottingham Forest star, but Elanga’s early months on Tyneside did little to justify the thrill surrounding his arrival.
He struggled to carry down an everyday place within the facet with targets, and maybe extra importantly, assists exhausting to come back by.
There have been mitigating circumstances, not least the truth that United did not have a conventional No 9 to work with for the primary month of the season. Although Nick Woltemade seems to be the a part of a burly centre-ahead, we all know he prefers a deeper position, whereas Yoane Wissa has not had the gametime on account of harm after which a scarcity of kind.
FOLLOW ON FACEBOOK! Keep up with all the Newcastle United latest via the Chronicle’s dedicated Facebook page
It’s exhausting to solely blame those that provide probabilities for a scarcity of finish product if there’s little to goal for.
By his personal admission, Elanga’s kind was not on the ranges he strives for but Tuesday night’s performance against Barcelona was the most recent in a sequence of latest showings which counsel the tide is popping.
Going again to September, he brought about the Barca again line loads of points, significantly within the first half, and sparkled within the win at Union Saint-Gilloise, but it is solely been in the previous few months that we have seen some consistency.
He was a thorn within the facet of the Catalan defence all through the sport final week, and it was notable that Joao Cancelo was handed the duty of marking him somewhat than Gerard Martin, who had suffered six months earlier.
But that last ball stays a difficulty – and it is one thing which may show pricey, not least as a result of Jacob Murphy got here off the bench to arrange Harvey Barnes’ aim.
Elanga had an opportunity to play Barnes in a lot earlier within the second half, but dallied and will solely select keeper Joan Garcia with the Untied winger determined for an early ball.
Alan Shearer’s groans on commentary mentioned all of it.
By distinction, Murphy barely hesistated to whip a cross in late within the recreation which discovered the onrushing Barnes, who gave United what they thought was going to be the profitable aim.
He can do it. In the primary half he flashed a pleasant ball throughout the face of aim which evaded Will Osula. It’s harsh, but an skilled striker ought to – and would – have been on the tip of it.
Elanga is now being often most popular to Murphy, beginning the final 4 Premier League video games and three of the final 4 Champions League matches. While Murphy may begin in opposition to Chelsea this weekend, you’ll count on the Swede to line up in opposition to Barca once more subsequent Wednesday night time.
It’s straightforward to neglect he is nonetheless solely 23. Younger that Woltemade and the identical age as Tino Livramento. We ought to present him the identical diploma of persistence as others of tenders years who’re nonetheless studying their commerce.
Sharpen up these break up-second choices and Newcastle may finally have a £55m expertise on their arms.
Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package deal
Sky has slashed the value of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle for the 2025/26 season, saving £336 and providing greater than 1,400 stay matches throughout the Premier League, EFL and extra.
Sky shows at the very least 215 stay Premier League video games every season, a rise of as much as 100, plus Formula 1, darts, golf and extra.
