Newcastle Utd are back in action on Sunday when they visit Brammall Lane to face Sheffield Utd.
The Blades are still searching for their first win in the league this season having suffered four defeats and one draw, although they did come close in their last outing at Spurs, with the home team snatching all three points in a 2:1 win having trailed to a Gustavo Hamer goal on 77 minutes. Spurs two goals came during the sixteen minutes of time added on by the referee, who also had time during that period to dismiss Sheffield striker Ollie McBurnie for a second bookable offence. McBurnie will therefore miss the game through suspension.
 
Those additional 16 minutes led to an amazing outburst by the Blades head coach Paul Heckinbottom during his post-match interview where he accused referees in general and match official Peter Bankes and his assistants of what he termed as ‘ruining the game’ over their interpretation of timewasting and game management. 
Heckingbottom must now wait and see if he faces any sanctions from the FA. A fine, or even a ban, are the possible outcomes should the authorities deem his comments out of order.
 
Despite results not going their way, Heckingbottom’s team have put in some solid performances this season and can count themselves unlucky not to have more points on the board, with all four of their losses coming by a single goal. This suggests that Newcastle could be in for a testing afternoon.  
 
However, the Magpies are coming into a bit of form themselves and having kept clean sheets in their last two outings will be looking to keep their defensive form going. 
 
However, its goals that have not been at a premier for Howe’s team since the 5:1 drubbing of Aston Villa in the season opener back in August which suggests that Callum Wilson could be straight back into the starting 11, having sat out all but the final 30 minutes in the San Siro.
 
The Referee for this fixture is Stuart Attwell. And his assistants running the line will be Con Hatzidakis and James Mainwaring. The Fourth official strutting around the technical area will be Anthony Taylor. And the unenviable task of staying awake in the VAR booth and attempting when called upon to draw straight lines using the PGMOL’s own version of an Etch A Sketch with a dodgy dial is down to Darren England and his assistant Neil Davies.
Mainwaring incidentally was the assistant VAR in last weekend’s game against Brentford at St James’ Park. 
 
KO is 4:30pm uk time and is live on Sky Sports.

​Eddie Howe hit back in his post-match press conference that he set up his team to be too defensive minded as they played out a 0:0 draw in the San Siro: "Our first thought wasn’t to defend deep or to protect our goal, far from it, that’s not how we set up our team. We tried to be aggressive, we tried to get to the Milan centre-backs and goalkeeper in their build up phase.
"[We had] Mixed success with that. I thought we were a little bit loose in our defending in that first half – hence the number of chances Milan created but we were very good in and around our box, hence why we got the point."
 
To be fair to the local press who follow Newcastle United any criticism of Howe’s set up seemed to be coming mainly from national media figures, coming off the back of their own hyped up and sometimes over the top pre match reporting on the club’s return to champions League action after a 20 year gap
 
Reflecting on the game as well as the atmosphere generated inside the San Siro Howe said "I thought the crowd were very good for Milan tonight. It was a hostile atmosphere for us, the players had to adjust to that and that's why I don't think you can underestimate the performance and the point that we get. 
"I think it will look better and better as time goes on because it's a new experience for a lot of people - me included - tonight and hopefully we can grow from this into the tournament. 
"Again, I'll praise the players for the defensive qualities that they showed today. We know we can do better with the ball, but hopefully that will come."

Newcastle Utd played out a hard-fought draw in their first Champions League game in 20 years thanks in no small part to ten out of ten performances from goalkeeper Nick Pope: and captain Kieran Trippier.
 
Yes, things could have been so much different if Milan’s attacking force had taken their chances in the sweltering San Siro heat. But they didn’t and it is to the credit of their resilience and organisation that Howe’s warriors returned to Tyneside with their first Champions League point of the campaign.
 
Milan came out of the blocks with something to prove to their exasperated supporters following their derby defeat to local rivals Internazionale as they set about Newcastle from the first kick.
 
Wave after wave of Milan attacks peppered the Magpies back line but the Rossoneri were thwarted by a combination of fine saves, last ditch tackles and poor finishing as a slow out of the blocks Newcastle simply couldn’t get out of their own half.
 
Safe after save and block after block seemed to be all Newcastle had to offer in a first half an hour as the magpies struggled to get their passing game together. But collectively Newcastle dug in and weathered everything Milan threw at them and certainly grew in confidence as last season’s semi-finalists grew more and more frustrated by their own inability to make their chances count.
 
If their first 45 minutes of frustration could be laid at Pope’s door, then the second 45 was more to do with the collective resolve that Newcastle displayed as Milan ran out of ideas.
 
A lot is made of team spirit and the travelling 4,000 inside the San Siro were witnessing a textbook second half display, driven by captain Kieran Trippier; ably supported by Dan Burn and Sean Longstaff.
Longstaff held the midfield together while Sandro Tonali was occupied containing the running of former Chelsea start Ruben Loftus Cheek, with Bruno searching to find space to get his team moving forward.
hard working performances were also put in by Anthony Gordon and surprise starter Jacob Murphy and Newcastle were grateful for a last-ditch clearance from Miguel Almiron who had replaced Murphy for the last half hour. 
 
Newcastle could have snatched all three points in the 95th minute when Longstaff unleashed a shot from 20 yards that was tipped over the bar by Milan’s substitute goalkeeper Marco Sportiello. The ensuing corner came to nothing, and the referee brought proceedings to an end before a second corner could be taken.
 
Newcastle are off the mark with a point. The team showed that they can stand toe to toe with last season’s semi-finalists, can handle a hostile stadium and the pressure that goes with it. 
 

​Its not until you witness a player who was so revered returning to the San Siro that you realise just how big a club AC Milan are and how big a part football plays in the football mad City. Given that this was a Newcastle United press conference the number of Italian press who were present gave an insight into what Sandro Tonali’s departure meant and how his career on Tyneside will be watched with interest back in his hometown.
 
Tonali was greeted by a throng of Italian media who were eager to hear his words and he didn’t disappoint.
 
Asked about settling in on Tyneside Tonali had this to say “After the first match I felt at ease. I was happier thanks to Howe and the whole team. They have really helped me and with my personal life.
My team-mates have been amazing. Especially with the language. Understanding and communicating with the others. Everything changes after moving to the Premier League”.
 
Naturally his fellow countrymen wanted to hear his thoughts on turning out at the San Siro in black and white rather than black and red and he answered in the only way he could having spent the previous three seasons there in what he described at the time as his dream move.
 “As I said, I think I'm going to feel the emotion tomorrow at 90 per cent. Today it's at 10 per cent. I've met some people I'm familiar with at Milan and have been in touch with them. It's hard emotions because they don't happen all the time in football. They're special and I'll remember them forever. This is the team I support and the team that gave me a chance to succeed. Things have completely changed. I am here as a rival, I have to manage that but it won't be a problem”.
 
On the game at hand Tonali had this to say “Tomorrow's game will be intense. A tight game. We want to respond to the intensity Milan will display.
I don't think you can judge a team on one game so Milan lost the derby, but it cannot be solely judged on that”.
 
He was also asked to say who he thought his father, a lifelong Milan supporter would be rooting for tomorrow and at this point Tonali junior played his diplomatic card as much to protect his father than anything else; family harmony being the operative word no doubt.
 “I don't know who he will support. I don't want to be in his head, but I think he will take care of me! I hope he will support me but it's very difficult to change a supporter's mind about their team.
I think he will support Milan and support me. Maybe he will want a draw?”
 
And having heard that a certain Zlatan Ibrahimovic had paid a visit to the Milan training complex this morning Tonali had this to say: He [Zlatan] and his good mood is contagious. He is one of the most experienced players. He can transfer good vibes to young people. Very spontaneous and authentic. He doesn't prepare, he just does what he feels”. Who would have guessed!

It was a case of Stormy Monday in Milan as torrential rain played havoc with Eddie Howe’s planned press conference ahead of tomorrow night’s Champions League encounter with AC Milan.
With the streets around the San Siro resembling more the canals of Venice than the anticipated late summer sun metropolis of Italy's northern Lombardy region, the planned press conference was put on hold while the assembled northeast press pack did some late revision with their Italian phrase books and stocked up on Moretti and breadsticks.
 
Howe’s team delayed their departure for Milan until Monday lunchtime, as they ran through their paces with an early morning training session at Darsley Park but weather conditions across northern Italy caused havoc with flights across the region, putting their arrival back a few hours
 
AC Milan head coach Stefano Pioli held his own press conference immediately after his squad trained at their Milanello training complex on Monday morning and he had this to say about the group.  “We know how tough this group is: PSG probably have a slight advantage compared to the others, but the group is evenly balanced, and every point will prove vital”.
 
"We're aware how important it is to start off well. Bettering last season's semi-final means arriving to the final hurdle, but we just need to take one game at a time. Newcastle are the classic English team: intense, aggressive, physical, but also highlighting their technical quality.
On the return of Sandro Tonali to the San Siro Pioli was diplomatically complimentary, saying: "It'll be exciting to meet back up with Tonali, as it will for him to see AC Milan again. Sandro was very important in our growth, which took us to the title, so we'll receive him with great affection."
 
When Howe finally arrived, he apologised to the assembled press for the delay and immediately got stuck into the questions. And after explaining that delays were part and parcel of travelling, Howe announced that Tuesday’s game would be his first champions league game.
I've never attended a UCL game - I've also been too busy working! It will be a proud moment for everyone after so long away. We have to be at our best”.
 
It was natural that Howe would be probed on likely formation and line up, but he played a straight bat when asked about Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson.
Isak: “He's really impressed. The initial injury was a blow but allowed him to settle in. When he came back, he was outstanding. He's a super technician”.
Wilson: Callum's ok. Normal preparation for him. 
So, no giveaways there!
 
On Tonali he was a little more forthcoming. “He's really committed to Newcastle. Living there, the language and everything we wanted him to do. It's very difficult to transfer from another country”. And when quizzed about signing him Howe continued the compliments, saying: “really like him as a person. Serious towards his game, which I like. He's a leader. Excited for what he can be for us - both now and the future”.
 
And questioned on Milan’s weekend defeat the diplomacy continued as Howe pointed out that Tuesday is a “Different competition. Different day. We can only focus on ourselves. We have to start the game well with the atmosphere. The start will be key”.

"I take pleasure in the team winning, preferably you win beautifully but, if you can't, then you win ugly. Absolutely. I've got no issue with that because sometimes you can't control how the game goes."
 
Those were the words of Eddie Howe when he spoke to the press after his team 1:0 win against Brentford on Saturday evening and he followed up by saying:
 
"Big result for us. Difficult game today, knew it was going be. Brentford are a difficult team to play against. It wasn't a game of many chances didn't think, thankfully we got the important goal we needed.
"I don't think we were in full rhythm today but that's what Brentford do; they disrupt you. It was a bitty game for us, we had to set-pieces right, crosses right and defensively I was very pleased with us today."
 
And that assessment will have resonated too in the post conversations among Newcastle supporters who will have enjoyed their post-match drinks in the pubs of Tyneside and beyond!
It wasn’t fluid and it wasn’t pretty, but it was three points and that’s all that mattered after three successive defeats. 
 
The returning Sven Botman brought back a solidity to the back four as they gained their first clean sheet of the season and Bruno Guimaraes looked far more fluid and assured than of late, possibly due to the presence of Sean Longstaff alongside him. 
Up front Ashley Barnes had a positive debut while Anthony Gordon continued his good form both in attack and in supporting his more defensive colleagues. 
 
Meanwhile Brentford manager Thomas Frank appeared to have changed into his post-match moaning pants as he voiced his opinion that his side were undone by an 'on-field decision we have nothing to do with'. 
He continued that a game at St James' demands 'character' from the referee 'in many ways' as he berated at the decision to award Newcastle a penalty when Anthony Gordon 'cleverly left his leg hanging'. 
This was followed by a strange and unwarranted gripe towards Newcastle's ball boys referring in his opinion that if they do not want to give the ball back, an 'extra minute' should be added on.
 
Nothing from Frank however on the fact that his team only managed two efforts on target from among their 44% possession.

Eddie Howe made five changes to his starting lineup for the visit of Brentford in the hope of resetting some composure to his team’s stuttering start to the season, but it was Brentford who looked the more threatening in the early stages.
 
In Mbuemo and Wissa, Brentford looked like they had able deputies for the suspended Ivan Toney as Newcastle’s back four struggled to get a grip with their movement and overall play while in midfield, the ever-resourceful partnership of Jensen and Nørgaard were finding space with ease.
 
Hickey went close in the third minute when his effort forced Nick Pope into a decisive block.
It was Hickey again who threatened when he found himself free in the box as he closed in on a cross only to be thwarted by Anthony Gordon, who managed to hook the ball clear.
 
Brentford continued to threaten but lacked composure and chances went passing as Newcastle started to pull their game together.
Wilson got on the end of a cross from Longstaff only to see his head loop over the Brentford crossbar and in Barnes and Gordon, Newcastle started to stretch the Brentford back five.
It was goalless at half time and the gloomy conditions were matched by a surprisingly quite crowd as the teams trooped off.
 
Newcastle started the second half more on the front foot and the crowd certainly seemed buoyed by what they were seeing. Passes were now slicker; the wide men of Barnes and Gordon were getting more joy down their respective wings. 
Newcastle thought they had gone ahead when Wilson prodded the ball home in a crowded six-yard box, only to see the referee rule against Wilson for a foul on the Brentford keeper. 
 
On 62 minutes awarded Newcastle a penalty when Flekken in the Brentford goal was ruled to have brought down Anthony Gordon. It was a soft penalty but Newcastle weren’t arguing and Callum Wilson duly dispatched the ball from 12 yards to give his team a lead that on balance they probably deserved for their second half endeavours.
 
Referee Poulson then presented Wilson with an opportunity to double his sides lead only to then review his decision for a handball by Mbuemo after a visit to the VAR touchline monitor.
 
Newcastle saw out the remaining minutes as a relieved St James’ Park greeted the final whistle with more sighs of relief than cheers of joy.
 
It wasn’t pretty but on the plus side it saw a clean sheet for the first time this season and plenty to build on as the squad heads off on its champions league adventures.

 
 
A relaxed Eddie Howe met the press on Friday morning ahead of Saturday evening’s televised game against Brentford at St James’ Park and emphasised the need for his team to return to the high level of performance that they have shown over the last 12 months.
 
On the injury front Howe hopes to have Elliott Anderson available after he withdrew from the Scotland squad, and he also stated that Sven Botman has trained this week and he will be assessed today before a decision is made regarding his availability. On Sandro Tonali however, Howe sounded less positive, “He felt his thigh in training. He came back from Italy duty with a strain. He’s had a scan, but we will see."
 
And when pressed on the dilemma now facing Anderson regarding whether to pursue an international career with Scotland or stick with England Howe was his diplomatic self. “It’s a difficult one to comment on. It’s for Elliot to discuss. Whatever he decides I will support him”.
 
Howe was also asked about the health of Academy Head Steve Harper, who suffered a medical episode during the international break.
“Harps is doing well. I was shocked to hear the news and all our thoughts are with him and his family. He's been a tower of strength for me personally since coming to the club. He's helped me and educated me on all things Newcastle”.
 
On Bruno Guimarães who returned to form with two impressive performances for his country how had this to say: He's been positive. Performed really well in both Brazil games. He's come back with a spring in his step. He's such a big figure and a catalyst for our work.
 
And when pressed on the situation regarding the players contract, Howe stated that he wasn’t aware of any updates on that front but that discussions are still ongoing. He did stress however that he didn’t think it's anything that is affecting Bruno personally as it's being dealt with by “his people” and not the player.
 
Questioned on whether changes are needed after three successive defeats, Howe re-emphasised the positive, saying “I have to retain faith in everything that we do, the group of players that we have. It's a long season...I'm very calm in one sense but also anxious to succeed in another and determined to try and win football matches”.
 
And regarding his midfield selections and formation Howe remained forthright. “If you'd looked at the midfield after the Villa game, you'd say there's no time needed [for them to gel]. It was a thing of beauty really.
Fast forward a few weeks later and people have a different opinion. I don't fall into that trap. There will be an adapting period for Sandro, like there was for Bruno. It's a natural process”.
 
One midfielder that Howe doesn’t currently have available is Joe Willock and the latest news is that Willock remains unavailable with no target set for a return.
“He's been away in Spain for the last week. Change of environment and focus for him. There's been a disappointment there because he's suffered setbacks.
He's such a key player for us. Our aim is to get him back as soon as possible and back to his best form”.
 
Brentford Manager Thomas Frank meanwhile played down the loss of Ivan Toney and instead concentrated the positives at his pre match press conference 
 
"We are very offensive-minded anyway. It is clear we lost Ivan Toney as a top player.
 
"But we've scored eight goals in the first four matches. I appreciate there are a lot of teams that envy us and our ability to score goals. We will do our very best to keep it like that."
 
Continuing to big up their new offensive approach he continued: "I think we were all over Bournemouth in the second-half in terms of creating chances. "We probably created four or five chances. If you look at the game overall in terms of chances we clearly should have won."
 
"The mentality in our team is fantastic - this team never gives up, never. We only have one mindset, go again, and try to win, I can't praise my team enough. The performance and character of the team is so powerful."
 
That mentality was certainly tested in their last outing, where it took a last gasp equaliser to salvage a point at home to Bournemouth.

Thomas Frank brings his unbeaten Brentford side to St James’ Park for the 5:30pm kick off in what promises to be an enthralling encounter.
 
Brentford's record on Tyneside since gaining promotion from the Championship does make for grim reading, however. In their previous four visits they have only managed to pick up a single point in the eventful 3:3 draw back in November 2021.
 
Brentford will be without former magpie Ivan Toney as he serves out his eight months ban for admitting 232 breaches of the Football Association's betting rules.
 
Brentford will also be without Joshua DaSilva and await news on the availability of defender Ben Mee who is given only a 50/50 chance of being fit.
 
In the absence of Ivan Toney Brentford have relied on the pace and strength of Bryan Mbeumo as their main threat to the opposition and he proved his value to the team, scoring a late equaliser in their 2:2 draw with Bournemouth last time out. That was Mbeumo’s fourth league goal of the season.
 
The Cameroon international was also on target for his country as the Indomitable Lions secured their place in the 2023 African Cup of Nations in a 3:0 win against Burundi on Tuesday evening. 
 
Eddie Howe meanwhile will be looking to his squad to restart their season after three successive defeats.
 
Long term injury absentees Joe Willock and Emil Krafth continue to be unavailable, but it is not so much the treatment table that Howe will be looking at but more the form stats as he contemplates changes to his line-up, having witnessed a very poor performance from his stuttering stars in their last outing away to Brighton.. Sven Botman however is reportedly available for selection and would be expected ted to slot straight back in.
 
Sandro Tonali reportedly picked up a knock whilst on international duty and an assessment on his fitness is awaited. 
Bruno Guimarães started both of Brazil’s World Cup qualifying games against Bolivia and Peru while Joelinton came on to replace him on each occasion.
Miguel Almiron meanwhile featured in both games for Paraguay without any ill effects reported. Initial concerns that he had suffered a hamstring injury were dismissed as simply being cramp.
Kieran Trippier turned out at left back for England at Hampden Park where Callum Wilson got a late run out having been an unused substitute against Ukraine.
It was a mixed international week for Alexander Isak, Martin Dubravka and Fabien Schar who all encountered a win and defeat for their respective countries.
 
The referee this weekend is Craig Pawson, assisted by Lee Betts and Marc Perry. fourth official is Tony Harrington and the poor soul in the VAR hotseat is John Brooks.
 
Brooks will be ably (or otherwise) supported on VAR by an assistant, James Mainwaring; no relation as far as we are aware to Capt. Mainwaring of Dad’s Army fame!
 
Harrington’s last outing saw him involved in major controversy when in his capacity as Assistant VAR he failed to intervene in the decision to allow Nathan Ake’s effort to stand despite Ake’s teammate Manuel Akanji not only standing in an offside position but also in the opinion of many, infringing on the sightlines of Fulham keeper Bernd Leno. 
 
The game is live on Sky Sports