Harvey Barnes is optimistic about his “brilliant connection” with one of his Newcastle United teammates as he enters his second season on Tyneside.
The 26-year-old joined Newcastle United from Leicester City last summer for £39 million, making him one of the club’s most expensive signings. However, his debut season was marred by a foot injury, causing him to miss 28 games and rendering his first year at St James’ Park inconsistent.
Now fully fit, Barnes is relishing a full pre-season under Eddie Howe’s guidance, preparing to make a significant impact in his black and white shirt. He has spent most of the pre-season in the starting lineup alongside Alexander Isak and Jacob Murphy, forming a promising partnership with Isak.
Barnes expressed his admiration for playing alongside Isak, telling The Athletic, “We’ve built that connection already; we understand each other. Sometimes it’s almost easy because you give him the ball, and he just does his bit of magic. You feel like you’ve done your job without doing much. That’s rare to come across. He’s a very talented player, the sort you want to be playing with.”
Despite their strong preseason collaboration, Barnes will have to compete for regular playing time alongside Isak. While Isak is a guaranteed starter for Newcastle, Barnes’ starting position is uncertain, especially with Anthony Gordon’s return from an extended break. Assuming Gordon remains fit, he is expected to be Newcastle’s starting left winger, relegating Barnes to a backup role and limiting his minutes alongside Isak. Howe plans to rotate Isak with Callum Wilson and incoming signing Will Osula, further impacting Barnes’ opportunities.
