Eddie Howe is refusing to get carried away with Newcastle United's solid start to the season.
After eight games the Magpies sit on 11 points and in a Europa Conference League place in the Premier League. It would be a position that would spark glorious scenes if Newcastle hold on to it until the end of the season.
But Howe - who has never spoken about final positions - has a simple request for his team in the games ahead of the World Cup break. Indeed, the former AFC Bournemouth boss wants to use the first half of the campaign to simply lay foundations for the new year.
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Howe told Chronicle Live: "It's still early stages. Early stages of a season and the league is still forming. But it will start to take shape very quickly. We want to be in the position where we are where we want to be.
"And that's where these early games of the season really do define potentially how your season could end up. So we know the importance of these matches."
After this weekend's visit of Brentford, Newcastle then head to Manchester United for a game that has always proved to be troublesome down the years with just one win since 1972 against the Red Devils at Old Trafford. Everton at home before a trip to Spurs will follow and then a clash against Aston Villa rounds off the month.
Howe added: "There is not part of us thinking any different. It's everything we have to win each game each weekend, that's where our energy needs to be."
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