Don't scratch your eyes. No need to pinch yourself. That did really happen.

The 2022/23 season will forever be remembered as a famous one for Newcastle, whose push to establish themselves among Europe's elite went into hyperdrive with a fourth-placed finish that brings with it a spot in next season's Champions League.

There will always be questions about those calling the shots at St. James' Park, but it would be wildly unfair to penalise Eddie Howe and his group of (largely inexpensive) players after a season of tactical brilliance, individual emergence and all-round excellence.

Here's a review of the 2022/23 season for Newcastle.

Outlook heading into the 2022/23 season

After a summer of consistent, controlled spending, most expected Newcastle to be pretty decent this year. Relegation fears were long gone and fans were hoping for a fun battle for a spot in next season's Europa League.

That being said, there were concerns over just how many members of the pre-takeover squad were still around. Newcastle signed just five players in the summer after another four additions in January 2022, so surely there was only so good this squad could be. After all, they were getting relegated before those signings arrived and the injection of quality was, on paper, not particularly dazzling.

Still, this was a long-term project, and so fans expected a solid step forwards. Conference League or Europa League, either would be great.

Newcastle 2022/23 players in

Newcastle 2022/23 transfers out

Newcastle 2022/23 player of the season

Bruno Guimaraes

This one is tough. This one is really, really tough. So many players deserve recognition here but, at the heart of everything good for Newcastle this season was Bruno Guimaraes.

Pulling the strings from the base of midfield, Guimaraes picked up where he left off from his first six months in England, adapting seamlessly to the Premier League game and elevating the performances of everyone around him.

Rumours of a £100m transfer to someone like Liverpool or Barcelona, while nothing to take seriously, are a fair representation of just how good this guy is.

Honourable mentions: Joelinton, Fabian Schar, Kieran Trippier

Newcastle 2022/23 goal of the season

Miguel Almiron vs Fulham

It's hard to even describe what happened here.

Miguel Almiron, who enjoyed a ludicrous career resurgence, went on a streak of not only scoring a boatload of goals, but couldn't stop bagging screamers either. Standing out from the bunch was this volley against Fulham.

Watching the ball drop from the sky, the Paraguay international volleyed home with the outside of his boot to bag a goal which defies all logic.

Honourable mentions: Fabian Schar vs Nottingham Forest, Kieran Trippier vs Man City, Allan Saint-Maximin vs Wolves, Miguel Almiron vs Everton, Miguel Almiron vs Aston Villa, Callum Wilson vs Everton

Newcastle 2022/23 performance of the season

Newcastle 6-1 Tottenham

Newcastle had some excellent performances this season, and yet this debate isn't even close. The Magpies' 6-1 mauling of Tottenham in April was the stuff of dreams.

Howe's side were three goals up inside nine minutes, taking advantage of a disheveled Tottenham side a they added two more to be 5-0 ahead after just 21 minutes. To call it 'men vs boys' barely even does it justice, such was the absolute dominance from Newcastle.

Harry Kane pulled one back early in the second half but Newcastle didn't slow the party down and Callum Wilson responded with a sixth to seal one of the most famous days in club history.

Honourable mentions: Newcastle 5-1 Brentford, Newcastle 4-1 Brighton

Newcastle 2022/23 signing of the season

Sven Botman

Newcastle boasted the best defence in the Premier League this season, and so much of that was down to the introduction of Sven Botman.

The Dutchman, targeted in January before eventually joining in the summer, slotted in perfectly and proved to be something of a missing link at the back for the Magpies, who had teams genuinely struggling to find a way through.

There's plenty of competition for this prize, but Botman perhaps just edges it.

Honourable mentions: Nick Pope, Alexander Isak

Newcastle 2022/23 most improved player

Joelinton

Another award which could easily be given to a number of players, it would be wrong to end this season review without picking Joelinton out for some individual recognition.

The Brazilian's emergence as a midfielder towards the end of last season was an interesting one, but this year, Joelinton proved to be a hybrid monster capable of scoring goals from deep or dazzling out on the left wing. He was signed as a striker, for the record.

Joelinton was a laughing stock just 18 months ago but is now recognised as one of the Premier League's toughest box-to-box midfielders.

Honourable mentions: Sean Longstaff, Joe Willock, Miguel Almiron

Newcastle 2022/23 disappointment of the season

Anthony Gordon

Newcastle's decision to hand £45m to Everton in January to sign Anthony Gordon wasn't universally met with praise, and the winger struggled to justify that spend during his first six months on Tyneside.

Gordon started just four times in the Premier League - his only four outings that exceeded 45 minutes - and waited until the final day of the season to score his first goal, having already attracted some criticism for an angry reaction to his substitution against Brentford in April.

At 22, there's obviously still a lot of time for Gordon to prove himself to the Newcastle faithful, but there's work to be done.

Honourable mention: Ryan Fraser

Newcastle 2022/23 statistics

Most appearances

• Kieran Trippier - 46 (38 Premier League, 1 FA Cup, 7 Carabao Cup)
• Sven Botman - 44 (36 Premier League, 1 FA Cup, 7 Carabao Cup)
• Dan Burn - 44 (38 Premier League, 6 Carabao Cup)
• Jacob Murphy - 43 (36 Premier League, 1 FA Cup, 6 Carabao Cup)
• Joe Willock - 43 (35 Premier League, 1 FA Cup, 7 Carabao Cup)

Top scorers

• Callum Wilson - 18 (18 Premier League)
• Miguel Almiron - 11 (11 Premier League)
• Alexander Isak - 10 (10 Premier League)
• Joelinton - 8 (6 Premier League, 2 Carabao Cup)
• Bruno Guimaraes - 5 (4 Premier League, 1 FA Cup)

Most assists

• Kieran Trippier - 10 (7 Premier League, 3 Carabao Cup)
• Joe Willock - 6 (6 Premier League)
• Bruno Guimaraes - 5 (5 Premier League)
• Callum Wilson - 5 (5 Premier League)
• Allan Saint-Maximin - 5 (5 Premier League)

Newcastle 2022/23 record in all competitions

• Premier League - P38, W19, D14, L5, GF 68, GA 33, GD 35, Pts 71, Position 4th
• FA Cup - P1, W0, L1, GF 1, GA 2, third round
• Carabao Cup - P7, W6, L1, GF 8, GA 4, runners-up

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This article was originally published on 90min as Newcastle 2022/23 season review: Back among Europe's elite.