Sports
MATCH PREVIEW – Newcastle United vs Cambridge United: Sell-out expected at St James Park for FA Cup third round clash

Newcastle United play host to League One side Cambridge United in the third round of the FA Cup, with a sell-out expected at St James’ Park on Saturday afternoon.
The Magpies announced the first signing under the new Saudi-regime on Friday morning as Keiran Trippier’s move from Atletico Madrid was confirmed for a transfer fee of £12million, plus add-ons.
Howe’s side haven’t played since their impressive performance against Manchester United at home on the 27th December, with the hosts unfortunate not to take all three points after the 1-1 draw.
Joelinton had his best game in the black and white, dominating in the centre of the park. As did Ryan Fraser who has performed well since the arrival of Howe and showed full commitment with his intensity and pressure against the Red Devils.
As the Magpies currently sit in 19th place, having won just once in the first half of the campaign and conceding the joint-most goals in the Premier League, the FA cup will be down the list of priorities for Eddie Howe.
Newcastle face a great challenge to avoid relegation and having lost their star striker Callum Wilson to a calf injury last time out, it’s important the club don’t suffer any other setbacks to key players.
However, a home FA Cup tie against opposition two division below offers an ideal opportunity to gain some momentum for the relegation battle and in-front of a 52,000 sell-out its hard to imagine the game being unimportant.
Newcastle have lifted the FA Cup on six occasions down the years but have not tasted success in the competition since 1955, most recently bowing out to 14-time winners Arsenal in the third round of the 2020-21 edition and failing to make it past the quarter-finals since 2005.
A comfortable win and minutes under the belt of some key players will be the objective for Saturday and having not played in over ten days, the Magpies will be looking to build on the performance against Man Utd and head into their next Premier League fixtures as fresh as possible.
Howe’s side face: Watford (H), Leeds (A) and Everton (H) in their next three league games and will be hoping to collect a substantial tally of points to add to the 11 already achieved which has left them 2 points adrift of Burnley in 17th who also have two games in hand.
Cambridge have already sent Northampton Town and Exeter City packing from this season’s FA Cup, although they needed a replay to overcome the former in the first round, but they have not made it past this stage of the competition since being beaten by Manchester United in the fourth round of the 2014-15 edition.
The U’s sit 16th in League One, 9 points above the relegation zone and have very little to play for in terms of league position come the end of the season.
However, their tie with Premier League opposition gives the supporters and players something to look forward to as the club experiences one of the highest attendances it has ever faced.
Newcastle have a poor recent record in the FA cup and have the threat of relegation hanging over them, meaning they’re unlikely to prioritise the game as highly as Cambridge who will be looking to pull-off an upset come 3pm.
FORM
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- This is the first FA Cup meeting between the two sides and the first match featuring Newcastle and Cambridge since 1993 where the Magpies came out 3-0 winners in the second tier.
- Newcastle have progressed from their last five games against lower league opposition in the FA Cup, having lost three in a row before this.
TEAM NEWS
Wilson’s injury seems worse than first hoped and could see him miss the majority of the second half of the season.
Karl Darlow, Ciaran Clark, Joe Willock and Matt Ritchie were believed to have been affected by Newcastle’s COVID-19 outbreak at the end of 2021, but all four could theoretically return here upon the completion of their self-isolation periods.
Paul Dummett, Isaac Hayden, Federico Fernandez and Jamal Lewis all remain out of contention through injury, while doubts persist over the availability of Ryan Fraser and exciting French winger Allan Saint-Maximin.
With the importance of retaining their Premier League status come the end of the season, Newcastle are unlikely to have the FA Cup high up their list of priorities and therefore Howe is expected to name a weaker side as players on the periphery of the squad are likely to get a chance to impress the new boss.
As for the visitors, midfielder Sam Smith saw red for two bookable offences in the draw with Portsmouth and will sit this one out.
Greg Taylor, Shilow Tracey and Lloyd Jones remain out for the long-term with injuries. Conor Masterson has also returned to parent club Queens Park Rangers.
POTENTIAL LINE-UPs
NUFC: CUFC:
Pre-match thoughts? How seriously will Howe take the FA Cup? Who would you like to see in the starting eleven?
Join in the conversation and have your say…
Featured
Newcastle United to Reveal New Shirt Sponsor?

footballinsider247 are reporting that the main shirt sponsor slot for Newcastle United is expected to be filled by airline SAUDI, who sponsored Newcastle’s mid-season tour of their owners’ homeland in December.
They state ‘This site revealed in February that there is frustration at St James’ Park that they have inherited a kit deal with Castore worth just £5m per year with no break clause and several seasons left to run.’
Newcastle’s recently appointed CEO Darren Eales has already previously expressed that the club at looking at all commercial opportunities and fans on Twitter were keen to mock up their expectation for the new shirts, see below and let us know your thoughts and also see our below video on how NUFC can increase commercial avenues..
Eddie Howe’s team are currently in a strong position to achieve a European slot which would increase revenue into the club allowing more spend whilst staying within Financial Fair Play which is something Howe has spoken about on several occasions as they look to stay within. If the club do reach a European slot it should help significantly with recruitment in the summer by making it a more attractive proposition to any incoming targets.
What do you think of the kits – let us know on our facebook page and join in on the conversation.
You can also download our FREE app – https://linktr.ee/northeastupdates
Credit: NUFC kit concept – twitter
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Featured
Amazon filming Newcastle United for “All or Nothing” style documentary

Amazon Prime are currently filming behind-the-scenes footage at Newcastle United for a new documentary.
The docu-series will provide an insight into the club and its efforts to secure a top-four finish and a piece of silverware in the 2022-23 season.
Reports today revealed that camera crews have been filming a four-part documentary for their All or Nothing series. Sky Sports’ Keith Downie confirmed that the series will cover the club and the new owners as they attempt to qualify for the Champions League and win a trophy.
The All or Nothing series has previously documented other Premier League Clubs including Manchester City, Arsenal, and Spurs as well as the Brazilian national team, Juventus, and the All Blacks of rugby.
Something I mentioned last night on @tfNUFC: Camera crews have been filming behind-the-scenes at Newcastle United for a four-part documentary to be shown on Amazon.
The series will chart the club & its owners as they attempt to win a trophy & qualify for The Champ League #NUFC— Keith Downie (@SkySports_Keith) February 8, 2023
Newcastle face Manchester United in the Carabao Cup final on February 26 at Wembley.
🗓️ 26.02.23@ManUtd 🆚 @NUFC #EFL | #CarabaoCup pic.twitter.com/V23zWPDoxP
— Carabao Cup (@Carabao_Cup) February 1, 2023
The Magpies have featured three times in Europe’s most prestigious competition.
Most recently in the 2003-04 season as they reached the third qualifying round, eventually losing on penalties to Serbian side FK Partizan.
The season before the Toon finished third in the 2002-03 Champions League group stages, winning twice against Bayer Leverkusen and drawing with Inter Milan 2-2 at the San Siro. The lineup that night; Given, Solano, O’Brien, Dyer, Shearer (C), Bellamy, Speed, Griffin, Hughes, Dabizas and Viana.
The series is expected to air later this year and will be available on Amazon Prime.
Based on previous seasons, you can expect exclusive access to training sessions, team meetings and match days, giving fans an in-depth look at what goes on behind the scenes on a day-to-day basis at Newcastle United.
It is set to be an incredible storyline and one that should provide fans with some real insight into what it takes to compete at the top level of professional football.
What do you think Newcastle fans?
Does this excite you or do you stand more with Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp who once said the cameras could be intrusive to the dressing room when he turned down the offer from Amazon In 2018?
Join the conversation on our Facebook page…
Sports
Newcastle target rejects Everton move following £45m bid.

Everton have made a £40million bid with £5m in add-ons to sign Connor Gallagher from Chelsea.
This comes after Newcastle completed the signing of Anthony Gordon, the club’s second most expensive transfer behind Alexander Isak.
Everton received an initial fee of £40m plus add-ons that could increase the deal to £45m.
EXCL: Everton have submitted a bid to sign Conor Gallagher from Chelsea. It’s £40m proposal plus £5m add ons. 🚨🔵 #EFC
Chelsea will make a decision soon as there are also other clubs interested in Gallagher — and player has to decide his future too. pic.twitter.com/xZeuGqaR01
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 30, 2023
The Toffees currently sit 19th in the Premier League and are looking to reinvest the money from the Gordon deal to sign much-needed players under newly appointed manager Sean Dyche.
But, multiple sources have reported today that Gallagher is not actively pushing for a move and has no intention of going to Goodison Park. However, with Chelsea having met the record-breaking €120m release clause for World Cup winner Enzo Fernandez, Gallagher may be forced to leave the club if the transfer is complete.
🚨| Conor Gallagher is not interested in a move to Everton 🔵 pic.twitter.com/0CYzXjBoBd
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) January 30, 2023
This leaves Newcastle an option as the player would prefer a move to a top-six club.
This morning, Eddie Howe said, “We’ll see what we can do to try & bring a player in. There’s no guarantees. In terms of permanent signings, it will be very difficult. We’ll look at a potential loan. But it’s got to be the right player & not one for the sake of it”.
Due to financial fair play, the only way Newcastle could sign the player is through a loan, with an obligation to buy the player for at least £45m, the same price they paid for Anthony Gordon.
Gallagher has been playing regular Premier League football over the last two seasons. Since returning to his parent club Chelsea, the 22-year-old has been linked with a move away to numerous Premier League clubs.
Last season he was named Crystal Palace’s Player of the Season by their fans. He also won the Player of the Month award twice, Goal of the Month once, and was awarded the Young Player of Year at the 2022 London Football Awards.
In the same season, he made 36 appearances scoring eight goals and registering three assists that earned Palace a 12th-place finish, one point behind Newcastle.
Have Your Say!
Would you want Newcastle to sign Conor Gallagher?
Does he start?
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