Matthias Jaissle has demanded an immediate response from Newcastle United after their unbeaten start to the season was brutally ended by Leeds United.
The Magpies suffered a 4-1 thrashing at Elland Road on Monday, leaving Jaissle’s side with plenty to prove when they welcome Hull to St James’ Park on Saturday.
Newcastle were already in serious trouble by half-time after conceding three goals before Noah Okafor added a fourth for Leeds after the break.
Substitute Bazoumana Toure eventually pulled one back for Newcastle, but the damage had already been done.
Now Jaissle wants his players to respond in front of their home supporters before the Premier League pauses for the international break.
“Really important, first of all, to show the right reaction after the Leeds match,” he said.
“This is something we discussed now during the last days. We have fully aligned and fully committed to show in front of our fans a clear reaction.
“Secondly, it’s always nice to finish a block before the national team break starts with a good result, that’s the second goal we have for that match.
“We again are also optimistic, even though there are a couple of challenges now with some injured players – not only Anthony [Elanga], a couple of other players as well missing – but we’ll use that as an opportunity for others.”
Newcastle’s task is complicated by a growing injury list.
Elanga will miss the Hull clash alongside Amar Dedic, Jacob Ramsey and Nico Gonzalez, while several other players who have been unavailable in recent weeks are also unlikely to return in time.
With the international break arriving after Saturday’s fixture, Jaissle believes the timing could give Newcastle an opportunity to recover some of their injured players.
“First of all, I think with that amount of injuries it’s better for us that we have the break in that stage,” he said.
“Other than that, probably I would have enjoyed to continue now improving, improving and improving.
“But we face it like it is, we cannot influence it. Hopefully after the national team break our injury list is a bit shorter.”
Newcastle will now face a Hull side that has made an impressive return to Premier League football.
Sergei Jakirovic’s newly promoted team remain unbeaten and sit fourth in the table after two wins and two draws from their opening four matches.
Their latest result was particularly eye-catching, with Hull holding Chelsea to a 2-2 draw.
Jaissle knows Newcastle cannot afford to underestimate a team that already has a clear identity and confidence behind its start to the campaign.
“Huge respect to my colleague because he’s doing an incredible job,” the Newcastle boss added.
“Clear identity, they know exactly what to do, they know exactly where their strengths are and they try to deliver that on the pitch and hurt the opposition with their strength.
“This is something we need to be aware. We need to take their strength away, using in the best possible way their weaknesses, and then we’re going to have a good result on Saturday.”
The message from Jaissle is straightforward.
Newcastle cannot change what happened at Elland Road, but they can decide how they respond.
Saturday’s meeting with Hull therefore carries added importance. It is not only an opportunity to return to winning ways, but also Newcastle’s chance to show their supporters that the Leeds defeat was a setback rather than the start of a worrying trend.
With injuries testing the squad and the international break approaching, Jaissle wants his players to finish this Premier League block with a performance that restores belief at St James’ Park.
Toosin is a dedicated sports writer with a strong background in crafting engaging and insightful content. With experience at Goal, he has developed a sharp editorial sense and a refined storytelling approach that brings depth and perspective to sports journalism. His passion for the game goes beyond the headlines, as he captures both the excitement of the sport and the compelling human narratives behind each event. Toosin’s work resonates with a broad and diverse audience, making global sports stories accessible, relatable, and impactful.
