Newcastle United are ninth in the Premier League table and can mathematically finish sixth if results go their way in the run-in, so they’ve enjoyed quite the turnaround from when Eddie Howe took charge – the Magpies were 19th in the league with five points from 11 games, having failed to win a single match.
Jose Enrique hailed Howe for Newcastle’s turnaround, crediting him for spending well in the transfer market and for improving existing players. He told Metro Sport: “Confidence wise the team was very, very low. They didn’t trust in the previous owner anymore and it was very difficult for them to get out.
“What (Howe) has done is a miracle. No one would have put a £1 bet on that. Not myself, not you, not anybody, not even Eddie. It’s incredible. The key was getting the right players because money doesn’t bring success. They trusted him and he bought the right players.”
Newcastle’s takeover by Public Investment Fund, PCP Capital Partners and RB Sports & Media allowed them to spend significant amounts of money in the transfer market.
The Magpies signed Matt Targett on loan from Aston Villa, Kieran Trippier from Atletico Madrid, Dan Burn from Brighton & Hove Albion, Bruno Guimaraes from Olympique Lyonnais and Chris Wood from Burnley in January.
All five players have featured regularly since their arrival, but Howe also deserves credit for improving a number of existing players. Fabian Schar and Joelinton didn’t have a future under Steve Bruce but are now the first names on the teamsheet.
Newcastle boast four consecutive wins in the league ahead of Saturday afternoon’s meeting with Liverpool too, so they’re one of the most in-form teams in the run-in.
In other news, Eddie Howe could transform Newcastle United with Paulo Dybala
