Was this the evening that Newcastle United's season burst back into life? Time will tell, but Sunday's 2-1 victory against Wolves at St James' Park felt like more than three points. It felt like Newcastle were firmly back in the race for the top four. As Kieran Trippier put it after the game: "We want to bring Champions League football to this massive club and we shouldn't be shy to say that."
No wonder so many of the players roared as they made their way back to the dressing room at full-time. Not only was this just Newcastle's second league victory in recent months, the Magpies showed real spirit to go on and win the game - just minutes after Hwang Hee-chan equalised to cancel out Alexander Isak's first-half opener. Newcastle had previously failed to score more than a single goal in any league game in 2023, but top scorer Miguel Almiron came off the bench to fire his side up to fifth in the table with a trademark finish from inside the area.
It was rather fitting that Almiron scored the winner. A different type of character might have moaned after being dropped - remember Spurs forward Richarlison's fury last week over his lack of game time? - but Almiron's selfless response won't have come as a shock to anyone who has worked with the Paraguay international. That selfless mentality has been at the heart of Newcastle's transformation in the last 12 months. So many players have put the interests of the team before their own and that togetherness will go a long way to deciding where Howe's side ultimately end up. Just as it did a year ago when Newcastle stayed up.
