Newcastle’s Carabao Cup final victory over Liverpool has confirmed a European place for next season, but Eddie Howe’s outfit are still hoping to return to the Champions League with a strong end to the campaign. However, several players are unlikely to feature in Europe next season and have already played their final minutes for the club before summer exits.
Here, Goldengallon has taken a look at those likely to leave St James’ Park and won’t get a chance to play for the Magpies again.
Jamaal Lascelles
Bruno Guimaraes and Kieran Trippier made a heartwarming gesture by inviting club captain Lascelles to lift the Carabao Cup on the Wembley balcony, having not featured in a single match this season.
He has missed the entirety of the campaign due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury. Although Howe confirmed that the skipper is in the final stages of his recovery, he may not get on the pitch before his contract expires in a few months’ time.
Mark Gillespie
Gillespie joined Newcastle in 2020 from Motherwell but has only made three appearances in those four years, all coming during the 2020/21 Carabao Cup campaign.
He may be as low as fifth-choice on the pecking order below Nick Pope, Martin Dubravka, Odysseas Vlachodimos and John Ruddy, is out of contract at the end of the season and may be better suited elsewhere to find more regular game time.
John Ruddy
Former Norwich and Wolves goalkeeper Ruddy joined Newcastle in July, following the expiration of his contract at Birmingham, penning a one-year deal. He has, however, failed to make a single appearance and all signs point towards a summer exit.
Jamal Lewis
Left-back Lewis saw his loan move to Brazilian side Sao Paulo wrecked after an ankle injury. He returned to England after just three months in South America and it is unlikely he will return before the end of the season.
Sao Paulo have an option to buy Lewis outright, with the player initially describing the move as “hopefully is a long journey”.
But the chances of that option being taken up are now slim, with a new left-back already brought in for the 2025 campaign. Lewis’ contract at Newcastle is up this summer.
Matt Targett
Perhaps the most likely player to get minutes before the end of the league season. Targett came off the bench in FA Cup fifth-round defeat to Brighton and with Lewis Hall’s injury, could feature as a substitute if Tino Livramento is given a rest.
He has one year left on his contract but has been low on the pecking order ever since Howe arrived in Newcastle, parting ways may be mutually beneficial for all parties involved.
