The winger is starting to show the form that persuade United to pay £55m for his services last summer
Newcastle United’s Anthony Elanga shoots under pressure from Barcelona’s Joao Cancelo(Image: Getty Images)
Anthony Elanga must be relishing next week’s Champions League second leg against Barcelona in the Nou Camp. After all, he’s saved two of his best performances in a black-and-white shirt so far for the Spanish giants.
There weren’t many dissenting voices last July when Newcastle forked out £55m for the ex-Nottingham Forest star, but Elanga’s early months on Tyneside did little to justify the excitement surrounding his arrival.
He struggled to hold down a regular place in the side with goals, and perhaps more importantly, assists hard to come by.
There were mitigating circumstances, not least the fact that United didn’t have a traditional No 9 to work with for the first month of the season. Although Nick Woltemade looks the part of a burly centre-forward, we know he prefers a deeper role, while Yoane Wissa has not had the gametime due to injury and then a lack of form.
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It’s hard to solely blame those who supply chances for a lack of end product if there is little to aim for.
By his own admission, Elanga’s form was not at the levels he strives for but Tuesday night’s performance against Barcelona was the latest in a series of recent showings which suggest the tide is turning.
Going back to September, he caused the Barca back line plenty of issues, particularly in the first half, and sparkled in the win at Union Saint-Gilloise, but it’s only been in the last few months that we’ve seen some consistency.
He was a thorn in the side of the Catalan defence throughout the game last week, and it was notable that Joao Cancelo was handed the task of marking him rather than Gerard Martin, who had suffered six months earlier.
But that final ball remains an issue – and it’s something which could prove costly, not least because Jacob Murphy came off the bench to set up Harvey Barnes’ goal.
Elanga had a chance to play Barnes in much earlier in the second half, but dallied and could only pick out keeper Joan Garcia with the Untied winger desperate for an early ball.
Alan Shearer’s groans on commentary said it all.
By contrast, Murphy barely hesistated to whip a cross in late in the game which found the onrushing Barnes, who gave United what they thought was going to be the winning goal.
He can do it. In the first half he flashed a delightful ball across the face of goal which evaded Will Osula. It’s harsh, but an experienced striker should – and would – have been on the end of it.
Elanga is now being regularly preferred to Murphy, starting the last four Premier League games and three of the last four Champions League matches. While Murphy could start against Chelsea this weekend, you would expect the Swede to line up against Barca again next Wednesday night.
It’s easy to forget he’s still only 23. Younger that Woltemade and the same age as Tino Livramento. We should show him the same degree of patience as others of tenders years who are still learning their trade.
Sharpen up those split-second decisions and Newcastle could finally have a £55m talent on their hands.
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