Newcastle United supporters have reason for renewed optimism heading into the new campaign, after Anthony Elanga and Yoane Wissa both delivered eye-catching performances at the FIFA World Cup.

The pair combined for five goals at the tournament — matching the total they managed together across their entire debut season at St James' Park. For a club still searching for consistent returns from a £100m-plus net spend last summer, the timing could not be more welcome.

Elanga rediscovers his spark

Elanga's World Cup began in dramatic fashion. Sweden were 4-0 down against the Netherlands when he came off the bench, and the 24-year-old needed just four minutes to get on the scoresheet, finishing a rapid counter-attack with clinical precision.

He carried that momentum into a starting role against Japan, cutting inside to curl a composed effort into the net and draw Sweden level. The team were eliminated in the last 32 after a 3-0 defeat to France, but Elanga consistently emerged with credit.