Newcastle United look to have come through the worst of it this season.
Eddie Howe’s side are unbeaten since the international break and are now surely in the driving seat to finish inside the Premier League’s top six.
Newcastle boast a game in hand over West Ham and still have an inconsistent Manchester United side – a team they have already beaten twice this season – to play.
While performances weren’t particularly convincing following the break, all that changed on Saturday.
Indeed, Howe’s side turned on the style and thrashed a sorry Tottenham side 4-0 at St James’ Park.
With Alexander Isak surely in the form of his life, Anthony Gordon continuing to shine and Bruno Guimaraes now free of the threat of a two-match suspension having avoided a booking since January, things are looking up.
Harvey Barnes is fit again and making an impact. Elliot Anderson is making waves following his return. Tino Livramento made his comeback on Saturday.
Finally, there are reasons to be positive.
Howe has weathered the storm. Despite links with other managers such as Jose Mourinho throughout the campaign, PIF have constantly backed their manager and their trust looks like being rewarded.
Now, Howe has spoken of their support.
Eddie Howe says PIF have done something brilliant for him at Newcastle
Speaking after his side thrashed Spurs on Saturday, Howe opened up on PIF’s backing during this testing season.
“I always say the most important thing for me is not during the good times, but the difficult moments which will inevitably be there,” he said (via the Belfast Telegraph).
“There will always be negative and difficult moments and it’s the support you get then that is the defining factor.
“You need stability, calmness, level heads and to be allowed to focus on your work. The people behind the scenes have done all of that for me.”
PIF have already said how much they value Eddie Howe
Speaking to The Athletic in February 2022, co-owner Mehrdad Ghodoussi talked of how they wanted Howe to be Newcastle’s version of Sir Alex Ferguson.
Obviously, matching the iconic Scot for time spent in the dugout even before you get to the trophies is near-on impossible in the modern game but it was an indication of just how much they see in Howe.
Perhaps it should be of little surprise that they were prepared to stick by him when the going got tough.
The post 'Defining factor': Eddie Howe now says PIF have done something brilliant for him at Newcastle appeared first on Geordie Boot Boys.