On January 15, Newcastle United were 19th in the Premier League table with 12 points from 20 matches after going five games without a win. Two months later, the Magpies are five places and 11 points better off after an impressive run of form.
Eddie Howe was appointed Newcastle manager on November 9 and picked up just one win from eight league games before the turn of the year. The Magpies have since won six and drawn two of the nine outings that followed. Alan Shearer believes Howe ‘deserves huge credit’ for turning things around.
Shearer said on Premier League Productions: “Eddie deserves huge credit. Not (because) the players he’s brought in who have been so impressive, but (because) the players that were there already when he took over that were really struggling. He’s transformed some of those players.”
Newcastle signed Bruno Guimaraes from Olympique Lyonnais, Chris Wood from Burnley, Kieran Trippier from Atletico Madrid, Dan Burn from Brighton & Hove Albion and Matt Targett on loan from Aston Villa, but the likes of Martin Dubravka, Fabian Schar, Joe Willock, Joelinton, Jonjo Shelvey, Allan Saint-Maximin, Ryan Fraser and Jacob Murphy have remained regulars all season.
Newcastle looked destined for relegation before Howe replaced Bruce, but now the Magpies are expected to stay in the Premier League and finish near mid-table. A number of players looked destined for the axe months ago but have impressed since the chance of manager and that’s why Shearer hailed the 44-year-old coach.
In other news, Alan Shearer says ‘reliable’ Dan Burn has been a ‘leader’ for Newcastle United
