Eddie Howe has admitted that some Newcastle United players will 'fall off from the ride that we are on' as the club's rebuild enters its next phase.
Although Howe has only had 'very loose discussions' about the summer so far - instead focusing on getting the most out of the current group - the club have been preparing for this crucial window for several months now. In fact, sporting director Dan Ashworth even said back in January that 'we know what we would like to do'.
Howe, in the meantime, will be making assessments on his current players every day behind the scenes. There is still so much to play for as Newcastle fight for a place in Europe in the final 15 games of the campaign and, clearly, every training session and game counts between now and the end of the season.
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"Absolutely," Howe told reporters. "I try and prepare every game, every training session, to the best of my ability, so I ask the players to then deliver that to the best of their ability for themselves, for the team, and for their long-term futures because we are making decisions based on what we are seeing every day.
"We want to take a core group of players with us. Some, ultimately, will always fall off from that ride that we are on. Players that end up leaving or not being part of the plans? It's more from them than from us."
These players have already overachieved, following a phenomenal first half of the campaign, but a run of four wins in the last 11 matches in all competitions has exposed the limitations of the squad in certain areas. Indeed, you only had to look at the estimated £241.7m cost of Manchester United's bench in the Carabao Cup final last week to realise the gap Newcastle still have to bridge.
That 2-0 defeat at Wembley has only made Howe, the players and the club's owners more determined to deliver success for the club's supporters. In fact, part-owner Amanda Staveley reiterated after the loss that Newcastle would not only one day win the Carabao Cup but, also, the FA Cup, Premier League and Champions League, too. To do that, the club will have to continue to evolve and Howe has already admitted that 'some players might not get back to Wembley'.
“I probably felt a bit of closure after the game," Howe said. "Phase one? Maybe a nice way of putting it. I don't know.
"I felt closure. I think we all probably did. That adventure was over and now we have to get back to the Premier League and get back to where we were a few weeks ago, but I don’t think that is a criticism of anyone that we were distracted. I just think it's human nature.
"I don’t think the players could have avoided what was in their face. Now we are back to the Premier League. We are very keen to start that journey again and try and excel."
After coming up against Manchester United and Liverpool in their last couple of games, Newcastle travel to the Etihad on Saturday to take on a Man City side blessed with serial trophy winners. Howe admitted bringing in players who have 'been there and done it' are 'probably unobtainable' this summer, but the Newcastle boss stressed the Magpies 'need a bigger squad' to truly compete right at the top.
"It is difficult for me to say, 'Yes, categorically, only money can do that' because it takes away one of my core beliefs that you can improve players, take them on a journey with you and achieve extraordinary things if they are committed to that process," he added.
"If I say, 'Yes, it’s only down to money', I might as well not invest the time and energy that I do with my players, but there is an element of truth in that you need investment to really compete at the elite level - and we’re talking to disturb the top group of teams.
"It’s very difficult to do that without that investment, so I do feel we have more to go, but I also believe in the coaching process and we can get more out of our players than we currently are. I will always have that belief - no matter how well we are doing."
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