Eddie Howe on January transfer window, Alexander Isak, Tonali/Bruno plan and thrashing Ipswich

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Eddie Howe watched on as his Newcastle United team tore Ipswich Town apart.

It felt like every time United attacked, they were capable of scoring.

Reflecting after the game and three wins in a week, Eddie Howe ‘absolutely delighted’ with what has happened on the pitch this past week.

Eleven goals and only one conceded, six Premier League points and a place in the Carabao Cup semi-finals.

As Newcastle United fans, fair to say we have enjoyed worse weeks before Christmas than this….

Eddie Howe speaking to Match of the Day after Ipswich 0 Newcastle 4:

“Absolutely delighted with the players and what they have given this week.

“It has been a really big week for us.

“Getting through to the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup was one of our big aims and our league form needed to improve, so brilliant to get back-to-back wins.

“We are just constantly trying to tweak things and trying to improve.

“There are a number of little things to upturn our form.

“Our creative play has been back to what it has always been, free scoring and looking like we can create at any time.”

Eddie Howe on Alexander Isak:

“There is no doubting his quality.

“We just needed to get the framework of the team right, to give him the opportunity to score.

“He has really responded well.

“The goals today just show his class and coolness in front of goal.

“With his speed and his technical ability, he has a bit of everything.

“The plan is that Sandro [Tonali] plays a little bit deeper than Joe Willock and Bruno [Guimaraes], but they are still given a freedom to express themselves and move.

“It’s getting that balance right between the freedom and the structure and I think they got the balance perfect.”

Eddie Howe on the upcoming January transfer window:

“The message is that we probably, at this moment in time, need to concentrate on the players that we do have and get the best out of them, rather than looking externally.”

Ipswich 0 Newcastle 4 – Saturday 21 December 3pm

(Stats via BBC Sport)

Goals:

Newcastle United:

Isak 1, 45+2, 50, Murphy 32

Ipswich:

(In brackets the half-time stats)

Possession was Newcastle 59% (52%) Ipswich 41% (48%)

Total shots were Newcastle 15 (10) Ipswich 10 (4)

Shots on target were Newcastle 7 (5) Ipswich 2 (1)

Corners were Newcastle 1 (0) Ipswich 2 (1)

Touches in the box Newcastle 35 (20) Ipswich 20 (10)

Dubravka, Livramento (Trippier 64), Schar, Burn, Hall, Tonali, Bruno (Miley 80), Willock (Longstaff 64), Murphy (Barnes 64), Isak (Almiron 73), Gordon

Unused Subs:

Vlachodimos, Targett, Osula, Kelly

(Ipswich 0 Newcastle 4 – Match ratings and comments on all Newcastle United players – Read HERE)

(Ipswich 0 Newcastle 4 – Instant Newcastle United fan/writer reaction – Read HERE)

(Ipswich 0 Newcastle 4 : Absolutely brilliant and Alexander Isak first NUFC hat-trick – Jingle bells! Read HERE)

Newcastle United upcoming matches:

Thursday 26 December – Newcastle v Villa (3pm) Amazon

Monday 30 December – Man U v Newcastle (8pm) Sky Sports

Saturday 4 January – Tottenham v Newcastle (12.30pm) TNT Sports

Week commencing Monday 6 January – Arsenal v Newcastle TBC

Sunday 12 January – Newcastle v Bromley (3pm) BBC iPlayer (FA Cup)

Wednesday 15 January – Newcastle v Wolves (7.30pm) TNT Sports