Eddie Howe has admitted his biggest challenge this summer will be retaining the 'unbelievable spirit' that has served Newcastle United so well while also making changes to his squad.
Howe will speak to his players about their futures this week and a number of stalwarts look set to move on in the coming months. Indeed, there are question marks surrounding a host of long-serving players this summer, including Isaac Hayden, Ciaran Clark, Karl Darlow, Dwight Gayle, Matt Ritchie, Federico Fernandez and Javier Manquillo.
These individuals have not played as much as they would have liked under Howe, while Hayden and Clark did not even make the 25-man squad for the second half of the campaign, but they have still played their part in Newcastle's turnaround this season by setting standards around the training ground. While the business the club did in January was significant, that togetherness and work ethic has been at the heart of Newcastle's transformation under Howe.
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Howe will be ruthless this summer, but it is to these veterans' credit that the Newcastle head coach wants to bring in similar characters who quickly realise what it means to play for the club.
"We have an unbelievable spirit and mentality about the group at the moment," the Newcastle head coach told Match of the Day. "I definitely don't want to break that.
"I think my biggest challenge is to harness and keep all the good aspects of the second half of our season while, of course, evolving, improving, with new additions."
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