---
title: "Newcastle: Lee Ryder reacts to new fixture schedule"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/newcastle-lee-ryder-reacts-to-new-fixture-schedule/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "David Comerford"
section: "Newcastle United"
published: "2022-02-19T18:05:30Z"
modified: "2022-02-19T18:05:30Z"
---

# Newcastle: Lee Ryder reacts to new fixture schedule

**Newcastle United journalist Lee Ryder has been left gobsmacked by the club’s revised fixture schedule.**

### The lowdown

The Premier League have [announced](https://www.premierleague.com/news/2489359) the fixture amendments for March and as it stands, Newcastle will be playing four games in the space of nine days.

The run starts with a trip to Southampton, originally pencilled in for Sunday 2 January before it was [postponed](https://www.southamptonfc.com/news/2021-12-31/announcement-southampton-newcastle-premier-league-match-postponed), on 10 March.

Eddie Howe’s side then to travel to reigning European champions Chelsea on 13 March before a third consecutive away fixture at Everton (rescheduled from [30 December](https://www.evertonfc.com/news/2432162/everton-v-newcastle-united-postponed)) on 17 March.

Perhaps the real headline, though, is that the fourth game against Crystal Palace is currently due to kick-off less than 44 hours after the Goodison Park clash.

\[freshpress-quiz id=”383619″\]

### The latest

[In a tweet](https://twitter.com/lee_ryder/status/1494711452732731404) on Friday afternoon, Ryder, The Chronicle’s chief Newcastle writer, said that The Magpies were facing a ‘potentially crazy schedule’ after the games were rearranged.

### The verdict

It remains to be seen if the Palace game – which could see Howe forced to ring the changes or risk injuries – is moved.

The St James’ Park meeting takes place on [FA Cup sixth round weekend](https://www.thefa.com/competitions/thefacup/round-dates), so if Palace get past Stoke City in round five, then it’ll be a reprieve for The Toon.

Either way, Newcastle can at least take solace from the fact that the clubs around them will also face a more intense schedule than usual at this time of year.

Leeds United and Watford are two games down, Everton three and bottom-of-the-table Burnley a whopping four.

**In other news, [Newcastle are eyeing this exciting talent in France](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/newcastle-united-transfer-rumours/newcastle-united-transfer-news-rumours-latest-steve-nickson-jeremy-doku-eddie-howe/).**