Eddie Howe believes Newcastle United’s mid-season trip to Saudi Arabia inspired the club’s impressive run of form.
Only title-cashing Liverpool are above Howe’s side in the Premier League form table right now, with six wins in their last seven outings lifting the Magpies 10 points clear of the relegation zone. A nine-game unbeaten run has quashed fears about relegation and supporters are already dreaming about the prospect of next season.
It is a dramatic turnaround that did not look conceivable when the squad jetted off to the Middle East at the end of January. Newcastle were fresh from claiming their second win of the season against Leeds but were still plunged in a relegation dogfight - sitting 18th in the table and one point from safety.
