Harvey Barnes rides to the rescue for Newcastle: New boss Matthias Jaissle's substitutions once again prove decisive... but the challenge for £50m new man Nico Gonzalez is clear

There was an argument to say this was Newcastle's biggest game of the week.

Not because of what it meant in the isolation of these seven days. Premier League matches against Liverpool and Tottenham are far more significant.

But in the context of a season - and the recent evidence is in the book for this club - a relatively low-key victory in August is the foundation for wild nights beneath the lights in January and beyond.

On the two occasions Newcastle made the final of this competition under Eddie Howe, in 2023 and 2025, they also qualified for the Champions League. Momentum and feel-good have been by-products of progression.

Howe's successor, Matthias Jaissle, must have read the form guide. He named a strong XI and, when the first-half performance was not strong enough, he made the half-time change that turned the tie in his side's favour.

There days after the German intervened and brought on Joe Willock to score within a minute against Liverpool, Harvey Barnes did the same here, albeit with allowance for 60 seconds more. Decisive substitutions could well prove a hallmark of the new head coach. He certainly does not want for conviction in his own beliefs.

Harvey Barnes celebrates after firing Newcastle to a late victory over West Brom

Matthias Jaissle celebrates as Newcastle make the third round of the Carabao Cup

Barnes very quickly repaid his manager's faith in him being the game-changer when he followed up his own blocked shot to smash in at the Gallowgate End for 2-1. Then, at 2-2 with eight minutes to play, it was Barnes who met Amar Dedic's cross to sweep home the winner.

Jaissle's celebration was every bit as animated as those which greeted the goals during that 2-2 draw with Liverpool. It was the same when Ivorian winger Baz Toure cancelled out West Brom's opener with a close-range finish in the 38th minute. Man-of-the-match Dedic was again the provider.

As if to demonstrate further how serious he was taking this, Jaissle introduced three of his best players from Sunday's top-flight opener just after the hour. On came Yoane Wissa, Lewis Miley and Anthony Elanga to help protect a lead that never felt as safe as it perhaps should have done.

Credit to James Morrison's West Brom in that regard, for they played with adventure and purpose. Indeed, their 19th-minute lead was deserved. As midfielder Isaac Price sized a 25-yard free-kick, Newcastle goalkeeper Ewen Jaouen set a two-man wall.

He was expecting a cross to the far post, supported by his position in the middle of his goal. Price spotted the keeper's miscalculation and got his measurements just right, bending low around the under-staffed blockade and into the bottom corner.

With that, an edginess crept into St James' Park. Half an hour earlier, they had welcomed new £50million signing Nico Gonzalez onto the pitch. The former Manchester City midfielder seemed genuinely chuffed when a spontaneous chant of 'Nico, Nico, Nico' emanated from the Gallowgate End.

Isaac Price was at the double for West Brom and gave them a deserved lead in the 19th minute

Nico Gonzalez was paraded ahead of kick-off after completing his £50million move from Manchester City

He had, officially, only been a Newcastle player for 30 seconds when he was introduced.

His arrival, coupled with a team-sheet worth £365m, stirred a mood of buoyancy from the off, and those on the pitch responded. After Willock twice went close to scoring inside the opening seven minutes, it felt like being a stroll for Newcastle.

At least, that was, until West Brom started running forward with pace and directness.

And that is the challenge for Gonzalez. He has been bought to add elite-level experience to a midfield which, for all its young talent, needs an organiser and more resistance in there. That much was clear when the Championship side ran through to win a 76th-minute penalty converted by Price.

The apparent lottery of a penalty shootout awaited. Jaissle, though, had already gambled with substitutions of intent - and the reward, thanks to Barnes, was a place in the third round.

Only after the turn of the year might we see just how valuable this night really was for Jaissle and his new team.