February 2026 is shaping up to be the biggest month of Eddie Howe’s tenure as Newcastle United manager yet, and expectations are high that we’ll deliver some big results throughout.
After a disappointing end to January with defeats to both Aston Villa and Liverpool in the Premier League, there’s some pressure on the manager and the squad to bounce back and reaffirm our place as one of the top teams in England right now.
In a month filled with Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League action, it’s the two trips to the Etihad Stadium to play Manchester City that will be our biggest challenge. Not only are we two goals down in the Carabao Cup semi-final to Pep Guardiola’s side, but we also have to travel to the blue half of Manchester later on in the month in the league.
And it a nightmare development for the travelling fans, there’s been some logistical changes to the fixture as well…
The club has today confirmed that our Premier League trip to Man City will now take place at 8pm on Saturday the 21st of February, having originally been pencilled in for a 12.30pm kick-off.
The change stems from our participation in the Champions League play-offs, as we have to make the cross-continental trip to Azerbaijan for the first leg against Qarabag at 5.45pm on Wednesday 18th February.
So whilst we’ve now been afforded an ‘extra’ seven hours of rest, it’s an unpopular move in the eyes of fans, who may struggle for transport or accommodation options in Manchester so late on a Saturday night.
It’s not the first time we’ve been allocated a nasty travelling schedule to the North West: we were the only Boxing Day clash this season, wherethe travelling Toon Army made its way to Old Trafford to see us take on Manchester United.
Following today’s kick-off change, our February schedule is as follows:
- 4th February – Man City vs Newcastle – 8pm (Carabao Cup)
- 7th February – Newcastle vs Brentford – 5.30pm (Premier League)
- 10th February – Spurs vs Newcastle – 7.30pm (Premier League)
- 14th February – Aston Villa vs Newcastle – 5.45pm (FA Cup)
- 18th February – Qarabag vs Newcastle – 8pm (Champions League)
- 21st February – Man City vs Newcastle – 8pm (Premier League)
- 24th February – Newcastle vs Qarabag – 8pm (Champions League)
- 28th February – Newcastle vs Everton – 3pm (Premier League)
The two trips to the Etihad Stadium, a notorious bogey ground for both us and the gaffer, is just the pinnacle of how congested and intense February’s fixture list is for us.
The month starts with the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg on Wednesday night, followed up three days later against Brentford at St James’ Park.
Then it’s four consecutive away trips against Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa, and the aforementioned Qarabag and Man City games. Before we close out February with the second leg of the Champions League play-off and our return fixture against Everton in the league, both of which take place at home.
It’s an unforgiving schedule, unlike anything any other Premier League club has had in recent memory (our trip to Azerbaijan is the longest away day any English side has ever had in the Champions League), and it will be a rest test of the strength and endurance of Howe and the lads.
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