For King and Country: Newcastle did something last night that no side has done since 1995

Newcastle United went super patriotic in the Champions League last night.

Eddie Howe had to utilise his bench to the best of his abilities with the Magpies suffering two injury blows.

Add to that the fact that a few players were playing well below par and some were just looking exhausted, the head coach had to make his full complement of changes just to keep his side in the game.

Newcastle fielded 10 Englishmen last night

In doing so, Newcastle ended up fielding 10 English players in the game, becoming the first side to do so in the Champions League since Blackburn Rovers in 1995 according to a post on X by Fun88:

Howe has built up a strong English contingent since he came in, whether or not that's a conscious effort on his part we don't know, but 10 English players featured last night and there are still a few more top-quality English players who never got a sniff.

The 10 in question had a mixed evening, with Anthony Gordon and Callum Wilson missing golden chances to score, Jacob Murphy lasting just three minutes before being taken off with a suspected dislocated shoulder, Jamaal Lascelles looked decent at the back, while Kieran Trippier had one of his worst games in a Newcastle shirt.

There's still more English talent to come

Matt Targett replaced Dan Burn at left back and added an attacking threat that had been missing all game. Sean Longstaff had a rare off-day too, while Joe Willock made his return from injury and looked like he'd never missed a beat.

Nick Pope was up there alongside Gordon as the best player on the pitch, though it's never a good sign when your 'keeper is up for Man of the Match!

Howe still has Tino Livramento, Lewis Hall, and Harvey Barnes who are all English as well as Lewis Miley who is earmarked as one for the future. There's also Elliot Anderson who is English despite representing Scotland. For now, anyway!