I noticed a comment in an article on The Mag recently that mentioned the “two Newcastle United Lewis’s’.”
Lewis Hall and Lewis Miley.
However, the author had obviously overlooked the fact that we also have Harvey Barnes. Or to give his full name, Harvey Lewis Barnes.
A third Lewis currently starting in the Newcastle United first team.
Harvey Barnes signed for Newcastle United from Leicester City on July 23rd, 2023 and has proven to be a valuable asset over the 127 games that he has played in all competitions to date.
He is principally a left winger who likes to cut inside and unleash powerful right-footed shots but he has more strings to that invisible bow that he carries than that. He seems to be a natural finisher and many people claim that he’s the best at doing so within the club at the moment.
When Harvey Barnes was competing with Anthony Gordon for a starting berth in the team he moved across to the right. I’m sure he wasn’t keen on that arrangement but not a squeak of protest was heard. I’m not surprised at that because he comes across as a real team player and a genuine down to earth lad.
His first season was severely disrupted by a serious foot injury that kept him out of the team for 131 days and was followed shortly afterwards with a relatively mild hamstring problem. The following season, he missed six games with a thigh injury but since then he has been available for every game. To quote his left wing rival Anthony Gordon, “Availability is the best ability.”
It was perhaps that disrupted first season which led to the issue that prompted me to write this article. I noticed another comment in an article that same day that described Harvey Barnes as our own “super sub”, going on to say that he is far more effective coming on later in the game rather than as a starter and it got me wondering.
This is a claim I have seen often since we signed him but I have always wondered what the truth of the matter was because I personally thought he looked pretty effective as a starter as well.
So, combing through the statistics on Transfermarkt has enabled me to compile the table below showing Harvey’s goal involvements as an NUFC player – as a starter and as a sub:
Harvey Lewis Barnes: Goal Involvements at Newcastle United
Interestingly, Harvey Barnes has started almost exactly the same number of games as he’s subbed. As a starter, he has had 29 goal involvements (17 goals and 12 assists) and as a sub he has had 22 goal involvements (15 goals and 7 assists).
There isn’t a lot in it but the statistics show that he has been slightly more effective as a starter compared to coming on as a sub.
As I said earlier in the article, that first season is probably the reason that he became labelled as an impact sub. He started far less games. This was probably as a result of being the new boy, being bedded in by Eddie Howe, and then coming back from a serious injury which was followed up with a “hammy” shortly afterwards.. he had to earn his right to start through his performances from the bench.
It’s not a great revelation but it goes to show how labels can be attached to people and then become difficult to shake off. It reminds me of Mitro and his “red mist” tag but that’s maybe a story for another time ….