Newcastle: Eddie Howe’s future and summer sales – what lies ahead for Magpies?
Considering the games ahead, we can’t afford to think that far ahead.
A late move towards Europe would give a different look to the tedious domestic campaign.
However, in order to achieve this, Newcastle need to go on a run that they have not been able to achieve all season.
The striker had referred to his side’s inconsistency in a previous interview with BBC Sport when Anthony Elanga asked whether the dressing room could make it clear they had fought for the head coach “over and over again”.
“We want to keep fighting for him because he helped us a lot,” he said.
“I would even go so far as to say that he is one of the best managers I’ve ever worked with. I’m really grateful to have him as a manager and I try to take everything he tells me into consideration because I know it’s to my benefit.
“I know he will help me a lot. All the players feel the same.”
But you never quite know what you’re going to get from Howe’s team this term.
Just as Newcastle could beat Manchester United with 10 men and pull off a rare win at Chelsea, this leaky team could capitulate and concede seven goals at the Nou Camp or take a first-half lead against Sunderland.
All in the same month.
Is there some degree of mitigation for the ups and downs of a season in which Newcastle reached the last 16 of the Champions League and the EFL Cup semi-final for the third time in four years, but also suffered 13 Premier League defeats?
Even in autumn, there was a belief that rough waters could be found inland after a turbulent summer.
Newcastle missed out on many of their top targets, bowed out and eventually sold star striker Alexander Isak to Liverpool on deadline day, and endured a critical period without a CEO and sporting director.
And while the so-called ‘big six’ are used to competing on multiple fronts and with deeper squads, this was relatively uncharted territory for Newcastle, who have played more games (51) than any other team in Europe’s top five leagues this season.
Such was the brutal nature of the program; There was a feeling at times in the camp that they “couldn’t breathe”.
But the squad will be boosted by the return of talisman Guimaraes, who is understood to be “working hard every day” after being sidelined with a hamstring problem, as well as midfielder Lewis Miley and defender Fabian Schar.
Howe will also have free weeks to prepare for the final seven games of the season and a rare extended period of time to work intensively with record signing Nick Woltemade following the German striker’s interesting last stint in midfield.
There is no need to remind the head coach and his staff that they should make the most of this time for a decisive few months on Tyneside.
