Newcastle manager Eddie Howe is reportedly not at risk of being sacked, despite his side’s poor form in recent weeks. The Magpies have endured a torrid month prompting conversations about whether a change of face in the dugout is required to spark the squad back into life.
Howe’s side won just two of their eight matches in December, with poor individual performances and an ever-growing list of injuries proving detrimental. Newcastle’s 3-1 defeat at the hands of Nottingham Forest at St James’ Park on Boxing Day epitomised the issues to many, with ex-Magpies star Chris Wood scoring a hat-trick against his former side.
Newcastle therefore sit in ninth place in the Premier League heading into 2024 and they must turn their form around quickly if they are to retain their spot in the top four, or even in the European places altogether.
Ex-Bournemouth boss Howe has come under fire as a result of the Magpies’ dismal run, though Mirror Sport understands that his position at the club is not at risk. Despite exits from the Champions League and Carabao Cup, the Saudi owners retain faith in the manager and are not looking for his successor.
Co-owner Amanda Staveley visited the dressing room after the defeat to Forest to assure Howe that he has the support of the boardroom and that there is ‘no pressure’ to turn things around in the immediate future.
Instead, the higher powers at Newcastle are said to have recognised that the injury problems in Tyneside have ‘undermined Howe’s ambitions’ to progress beyond last season’s fourth-placed finish and push for silverware.
The Magpies have made several changes behind the scenes to try and understand why the club have been hit by so many injuries this season, with the physiotherapy unit making adjustments to how they operate and the overall training patterns being amended to try and highlight what the problem could be.
Newcastle will be hoping that their injury woes are not as noticeable after the January transfer window, with several new arrivals expected to arrive in Tyneside to provide depth for the second half of the campaign. Howe is keen for his side to sign a midfielder, goalkeeper and striker next month as part of his overhaul, with further acquisitions not ruled out as long as the club can operate within the confines of Financial Fair Play restrictions.
