Newcastle United are hoping to secure Champions League football for next season, and it would only be appropriate if they took another big step towards that goal away to Leeds United on Saturday lunchtime. After all, that’s the fixture that kickstarted their entire journey, all the way back in the middle of last season.
As relieved as most fans were to see Eddie Howe take over from Steve Bruce in the Newcastle United dugout, it took a little while for the new gaffer to really find his feet at St James’ Park.
Defeats away to Arsenal and Liverpool and at home to Manchester City early in his reign were understandable; losing 4-0 at Leicester and drawing at home with fellow strugglers and eventually-relegated Norwich and Watford, less so.
