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.
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Unlike that relegation fight, though, when Chris Wood led the line for large periods, Newcastle have a striker in Isak who is the sort of elite talent that could turbocharge the Magpies' push for Europe after putting his injury issues behind him. Isak certainly gave Newcastle a new dimension up front with his pace and movement at the weekend and even scored a trademark centre forward's goal with his 26th-minute header. Worryingly for Spurs and Liverpool, Howe predicted there is a lot more to come from the Sweden international and his side as a whole.
“I do," the Newcastle head coach told reporters. "There's a lot more to come from us in general. There's a lot more to come from him, there's a lot more to come from a lot of the players.
“I see their capabilities on a day-to-day basis and I really want the best for them. I'm really excited by what Alex can do for us now and in the future."
Newcastle are now just four points off fourth-placed Spurs with two games in hand and the Magpies' fate is firmly in their hands going into the final 13 matches of the campaign after Howe's bold calls paid off. Howe is not one for sweeping changes, but the Newcastle boss made a whopping five changes for this game as Fabian Schar, Joe Willock, Jacob Murphy, Alexander Isak and Allan Saint-Maximin all came into the starting line-up. Joelinton and Anthony Gordon may have missed the game through suspension and injury respectively, but Howe's decision to drop Callum Wilson, who had a bout of illness earlier this week, and Miguel Almiron felt like a statement in itself.
Wilson and Almiron may have been responsible for nearly half of Newcastle's league goals this season, but, clearly, there are no untouchables in this side. The way Newcastle started the game told you as much as those who came into the starting XI looked to make an immediate impression.
Newcastle pressed high from the off, forcing Wolves into mistakes, and the Magpies had plenty of possession and territory in the opening stages. When it came to clear cut chances, however, Jose Sa had little to do until the quarter of an hour mark when the goalkeeper easily held Isak's header from Saint-Maximin's cross.
It was Wolves who next threatened just a few minutes later when Pope took a heavy touch following a back pass from Sven Botman to allow Raul Jimenez to nip in, but nothing was given after the Newcastle goalkeeper appeared to take him down. It was a huge let-off, but Newcastle soon took advantage.
There were 26 minutes on the clock when Kieran Trippier curled in a free-kick from the right and Isak rose highest to direct a fine header past Sa to give Newcastle lift-off. It was Newcastle's first goal in a month and newfound confidence was soon flowing through the hosts.
In fact, Newcastle could have doubled their advantage just a couple of minutes later when Joe Willock's effort was deflected wide following a goalmouth scramble. Newcastle clearly smelt blood and Bruno Guimaraes was the next player to go close after the Brazil international's header hit the crossbar after Dan Burn hooked Trippier's deep corner back into the danger zone.
Newcastle were on top, but there was still only a goal in it and Wolves were certainly not out of this yet. The visitors offered a timely reminder of that just before half-time when Daniel Podence cut in from the left and struck the outside of the post.
Pope was soon forced into a crucial stop after the break when the Newcastle goalkeeper kept out substitute Pedro Neto's venomous effort from the edge of the area with a strong hand in the 58th minute. Yet it said a lot about how end-to-end this second half was that Newcastle nearly scored, themselves, just a minute later when Sa pushed away Trippier's free-kick with a fine save of his own.
Newcastle needed another goal and Howe threw on Almiron and Wilson for Isak and Saint-Maximin in search of that killer second in the 68th minute. Only it was Wolves who were soon level.
Newcastle have given away a number of soft goals in recent weeks, but none as poor as Hwang Hee-chan's equaliser in the 70th minute. Newcastle had a host of opportunities to clear their lines in the build-up before Nick Pope and Kieran Trippier got their wires crossed as the Magpies 'keeper came to gather and his England team-mate ended up inadvertently squaring the ball to Hwang after he slipped. Hwang could not miss.
Newcastle could have crumbled, but Almiron popped up with a precious winner in the 78th minute to secure three vital points after a smart one-two with Willock. It could yet prove a season-defining moment.
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