HE would no doubt prefer to be starting, but Harvey Barnes is rapidly establishing himself as Newcastle United’s super-sub. Last season, it was West Ham who were put to the sword when Barnes came off the bench to change the game – yesterday, it was Wolves on the receiving end of Harvey’s barnstorming substitute display.

The winger came on at half-time at Molineux as part of a triple change that came with Wolves leading through Mario Lemina’s first-half strike, and after Fabian Schar’s deflected long-range effort hauled Newcastle level, Barnes curled a superb long-range strike into the top corner to complete the comeback.

Eddie Howe’s decisiveness at the break was rewarded with a much-improved second-half display in which all three of the half-time replacements played a major part. For much of last season, the Newcastle boss could barely assemble a bench. With the injury situation having eased, the Magpies’ squad depth could prove a major asset.

The alterations were needed as after starting brightly, Newcastle’s positive play was already fizzling out by the time Wolves scored their 36th-minute opener.

The Magpies had more than 75 per cent possession for the opening half-hour, but not for the first time, translating that dominance into clear-cut chances was an issue.

Jacob Murphy saw a seventh-minute shot tipped over by Sam Johnstone after Alexander Isak’s pass ushered him towards the 18-yard box, but that was about as cohesive as Newcastle’s passing play in the final third got before they fell behind.

Murphy was restored to the starting line-up in place of Barnes, with Anthony Gordon returning to his usual position on the left flank. Gordon played as a central striker in the second half, but his best moment came in the first when he almost opened the scoring with a moment of magic. Bursting infield from the left flank, Gordon dribbled past both Semedo and Yerson Mosqueda before curling in a shot that clipped the outside of the post.

Newcastle’s goal hadn’t really been threatened at that stage, but with Bruno Guimaraes having to make an important block to deny Matheus Cunha and Jean-Ricner Bellegarde firing over from the corner of the box, Wolves’ players were becoming increasingly comfortable by the time the Magpies’ rearguard was breached.

The home side always looked capable of threatening on the break, and this is a Newcastle side that is vulnerable to a swift counter-attack. Sure enough, when the hosts swept upfield nine minutes before the break, the move ended with them scoring.

Sean Longstaff’s cheap concession of possession in the Wolves half proved crucial, putting the Magpies onto the back foot. Jorgen Strand Larsen held off Dan Burn as he broke down the right, Joao Gomes intelligently dummied the Norwegian striker’s low cross, and Lemina was left with the simple task of sweeping home.

The first half ended with Isak needing treatment after Dawson’s clearance thudded into his face, and the Swede failed to reappear after the interval. He wasn’t the only Newcastle player to make way at half-time, with Howe opting for a triple change that also saw Longstaff and Joelinton replaced. Barnes, Sandro Tonali and Joe Willock all played key roles in Newcastle’s recovery.

The Magpies’ hopes of a fightback might well have been scuppered had Strand Larsen found the net after holding off Schar in the 53rd-minute rather than hitting the post, and the Wolves striker went close again shortly after with a glanced header that was saved by Nick Pope.

Only trailing by one goal, though, Newcastle were always in the game, and they levelled with 15 minutes left thanks to a sweet strike from Schar and a helpful deflection off Dawson. Receiving the ball from Guimaares, Schar took aim from 22 yards, and his shot flicked off the top of Dawson’s head before finding the top corner.

Newcastle scented blood, and having been Newcastle’s most threatening player throughout the second half, Barnes turned the game on its head with ten minutes left. Having played a one-two with Willock, the half-time substitute drove infield before curling a superb 22-yard strike into the top right-hand corner.