By taking the Newcastle United job, Eddie Howe was not only returning to management after more than a year out, the 44-year-old was also reuniting with some of the stars who helped his Bournemouth side achieve promotion to the Premier League.
Ryan Fraser, Matt Ritchie and Callum Wilson were all pivotal under him as the Cherries rose through the ranks of English football and can now enjoy the benefits of being coached by him once again.
Ritchie has been a regular for the Magpies and is now in his sixth season at Newcastle, whilst Wilson is the club’s top scorer this term, having netted six goals before being ruled out for a number of weeks with a calf injury.
However, Fraser who has struggled to make an impact since swapping the south coast for the northeast, scoring just once for the Toon since his move in summer 2020.
On the chalkboard
The Scotland international has managed nine league starts this term, but his only goal involvement was an assist in the 3-3 draw against Brentford in November.
The winger was certainly more prolific in his time at Bournemouth, netting 16 goals and contributing 29 assists in 120 league appearances during the Cherries’ five-year stint in the top flight.
Although those numbers aren’t eye-watering, Howe could help the 27-year-old to fully kickstart his Newcastle career and end the season as a key contributor to the Magpies’ top-flight survival bid.
Fraser needs encouragement that he can succeed at this level, and he already has in previous years, with 2018/19 the Scot’s most fruitful campaign to date, scoring seven goals and registering a whopping 14 assists in the Premier League.
Back then, the winger was also making an impression on the international stage, as then-Scotland manager Alex McLeish said he was like “a house on fire” and can be “very dangerous.”
Howe needs more firepower from the flanks, with Allan Saint-Maximin levels above the club’s other wingers. The Frenchman has scored five goals and registered three assists in 21 Premier League appearances thus far and is an example to his team-mates in the same position.
The only other winger to score for the Magpies this season is Jacob Murphy, who has one goal, so there is certainly a pathway for Fraser to start regularly.
The £63k-per-week Scotsman needs to step up, particularly given Newcastle’s predicament. There should be optimism that, playing under Howe once again, Fraser can rediscover some form similar to that of his peak at Bournemouth.
Should the 27-year-old get back to those heights, Newcastle could have some serious firepower from the flanks in him and Saint-Maximin.
AND in other news, “I believe”: Luke Edwards delivers big Newcastle update which will leave Howe buzzing…