Published: 02:00, 21 October 2025 | Updated: 02:00, 21 October 2025

After nearly four years of waiting, Newcastle United invested £55million to make Anthony Elanga the first right winger signed post-takeover. Nearly four months on and they are still waiting for the best version of that player to arrive.

No goals or assists from 11 matches is one metric by which to evaluate the 23-year-old’s early contribution, but it’s as much the eye test he is yet to pass. He looks as low on confidence as he is on numbers, lost as to how to use his greatest weapon, his whiplash speed, in new surrounds.

Like all players under Eddie Howe, there will be improvement. He will be given time by staff and supporters for that to come about. The disappointment is that Elanga was bought to hit the ground running - and do so running fast.

There was a feeling during Newcastle’s last home match that Elanga would have fared better had he been playing for Nottingham Forest.

His former club sat deep and had grass in front of them, the sort of...