Manchester United could decide the futures of these two Newcastle United players


 
 
 
 
 
 

Manchester United, Chelsea and Newcastle United all won their final game of the season.

Newcastle United 4-2 victors at Brentford.

Chelsea scraping past Bournemouth 2-1 at Stamford Bridge.

Whilst Manchester United were 2-0 winners at Brighton.

This left the final Premier League table looking like this:

Newcastle United qualifying for the Europa Conference League as things stand and Chelsea going into the Europa League.

However, Manchester United could still change things totally.

If they pulled off a shock win on Saturday in the FA Cup final against Man City, then they (Manchester United) would go into the Europa League, Chelsea would then play in the Europa Conference League, whilst Newcastle United wouldn’t have any European football.

Eddie Howe now asked about the futures of two Newcastle United players and revealing that a contract extension offer for one or both, could well depend on how Manchester United get on this Saturday….

“Paul Dummett and Matt Ritchie are just incredible characters.

“There’s a slight doubt over their futures but we go to Australia with them.

“I think European qualification might potentially have a bearing on what happens with their futures.

“What I will say about Paul Dummett and Matt Ritchie is that they have just been incredible servants to the football club.

I absolutely love their characters and what they have given.

“I think sometimes it is very easy to define success by [only] what happens on the pitch.

“But you have to have a process

“You have the training ground work and the environment and culture you are trying to create.

“These two players have been absolutely fundamental to how we work behind the scenes.

“I can’t speak highly enough of them both.”

Eddie Howe referencing the extra matches that will be played if in the Europa Conference League, with both Ritchie and Dummett seemingly set to help carry that extra workload, so long as Manchester United lose at Wembley.

Stats via BBC Sport:

Brentford 2 Newcastle 4 – Sunday 19 May 4pm

Goals:

Newcastle United:

Barnes 21, Murphy 36, Isak 38, Bruno 77

Brentford:

Janelt 48, Wissa 70

(Half-time stats in brackets)

Possession was Brentford 53% (54%) Newcastle 47% (46%)

Total shots were Brentford 10 (3) Newcastle 12 (8)

Shots on target were Brentford 5 (1) Newcastle 7 (5)

Corners were Brentford 3 (1) Newcastle 0 (0)

Touches in the box Brentford 12 (5) Newcastle 29 (19)

Newcastle team v Brentford:

Pope; Krafth, Schar (Dummett 90+2), Burn, Hall; Longstaff, Guimaraes, Joelinton (Trippier 81); J Murphy (Almiron 68), Isak (Wilson 81), Barnes (Anderson 68)

Unused subs:

Dubravka, Ritchie, White, A Murphy

(Brentford 2 Newcastle 4 – Instant Newcastle United fan / writer reaction – Read HERE)

(Match Report : Brentford 2 Newcastle 4 – Brazilliance in the sunshine – Read HERE)