Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has said that keeping the club in the Premier League would be one of the finest moments of his career.
The Magpies looked in dire straits going into the new year after managing just one win all season with relegation down to the second tier for the third time in 13 campaigns very much on the cards.
But January saw the start of a dramatic upturn in fortunes as the club's new Saudi-backed owners funded a spending spree that saw Kieran Trippier, Chris Wood, Bruno Guimaraes, Dan Burn and Matt Targett all arrive on Tyneside.
Howe believes the 1-0 victory at Leeds United, followed by a morale-boosting warm-weather training camp in Saudi Arabia, were key factors behind a recovery that now sees Newcastle sitting in 14th place, 12 points clear of the bottom three.
“It would be right up there, right up there,” said Howe, when asked where this season listed in his career achievements. “I’ve been so focused week on week and the job’s not done yet. I can’t take myself there in terms of looking back and reflecting. It’s difficult in this moment to do that.
“I’m very much in the moment and focusing on the next game knowing that we’re still in the middle of the battle that we have ahead.
“You may be better asking me if – and hopefully when – we achieve the target.
“Leeds was a turning point for us. We went to Saudi Arabia after that, which was a brilliant trip for the group and we came back in a much better place, united and ready to start the fight to stay in the division. That was a massive, massive result for us that led to the good run of form since.”
Newcastle were five points adrift of safety when Howe, who previously guided Bournemouth from League Two to a top-10 finish in the Premier League, replaced Steve Bruce in charge last November.
Victory over Crystal Palace on Tyneside on Wednesday would take Newcastle to 40 points, the traditional finishing line for those hoping to avoid relegation.
Newcastle 2 Leicester 1: player ratings
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NEWCASTLE RATINGS: Martin Dubravka - 7: Clattered into Burn on edge of box after four minutes that left teammate needing treatment. Got hand/body to Lookman’s goal but couldn’t keep it out. No big saves to make with Leicester managing just two shots on target. Getty -
Emil Krafth - 7: Neat one-two followed by cross into box that forced Leicester to concede corner that would lead to Guimaraes scoring. Denied Lookman shot on goal with vital toe poke in second half. Booked for hauling down Iheanacho but good performance from Swede. Getty -
Fabian Schar - 7: Nice curling pass over defence to pick out Joelinton in first half but Brazilian couldn’t keep shot down. Fine job in keeping Daka very quiet and Swiss defender is enjoying life under Eddie Howe. Reuters -
Dan Burn - 7: Left dazed after being bulldozed over by Dubravka but able to play on. Blocked Perez shot as Foxes looked to make it 2-0 in first half. Mistimed his leap with chance from corner in 80th minute and headed well wide but strong defensively. Getty -
Matty Targett - 7: Headed chance straight into arms of keeper after 37 minutes from Guimaraes ball. A few no-nonsense tackles from on-loan left-back who also started move for winning goal and has been vital January signing for Magpies. Getty -
Jonjo Shelvey - 6: Had dipping free-kick from distance in opening two minutes saved by Schmeichel and his corner led to Guimaraes scoring. Struggled to match quality of Tielemans at times, though, particularly in first half. Reuters -
Bruno Guimaraes - 8: The new crowd favourite had been struggling to find room in centre of park but poked home Magpies’ leveller after Schmeichel error and VAR review. Quiet from Brazilian compared to previous games but then popped up with flying diving header for winner. Reuters -
Joelinton - 6: Blasted chance from tight angle way over bar after 15 minutes and then reluctant to pull trigger with another chance later in half. Blazed another opportunity wide after break. Usual fantastic workrate but still amazes that he was bought as a centre-forward. PA -
Miguel Almiron - 6: Starting in place of injured Ryan Fraser and while you can never criticise his engine, his lack of assists or goals is a problem. Nice bit of skill to skip past Thomas on byline at start of second half. Getty -
Allan Saint-Maximin - 5: A few examples of his trademark surging runs to remind everyone what he is capable of but also too many examples of poor decision making. Hit shots high, wide and straight at the keeper after break. AFP -
Chris Wood - 5: Headed Joelinton cross off target just before half-time but little other sniff of goal for big New Zealand striker, although might have benefitted from earlier crosses into box - from Saint-Maximin in particular. Getty -
SUBS: Joe Willock – (On for Wood 69’) 6: Had barely figured until barnstorming run in inury-time that set up winner for Guimaraes. Getty -
Jacob Murphy – (On for Almiron 69’) 4: Did nothing after coming on bar getting caught in possession for dwelling on ball too long and passing the ball to the opposition. Reuters -
Dwight Gayle – (On for Saint-Maximin 90+1’) N/A. PA -
LEICESTER RATINGS: Kasper Schmeichel - 5: Rare error from Dane after getting ball caught between his legs allowing Guimaraes to poke home leveller. Little else to do on quiet afternoon for goalkeepers. Getty -
James Justin - 7: Good block on what looked a goal-bound shot from Burn after 11 minutes and did well when up against the dangerous Saint-Maximin. PA -
Daniel Amartey - 7: Booked in first minute for tripping Almiron which left him on knife edge for rest of game but never looked in huge amount of danger as Newcastle’s attack failed to threaten until a late killer blow. Reuters -
Caglar Soyuncu - 6: Had home side claiming penalty for challenge on Wood in first half but rightly waved away by officials. Feels like an accident waiting to happen but largely untroubled here. PA -
Luke Thomas - 7: Had dealt with Almiron with relative ease until being turned inside out by Paraguayan at start of second half but still good effort from full-back. PA -
Youri Tielemans - 7: Might be coming to end of Leicester career but still showing his quality and beat Shelvey with ease on a couple of occasions in first half. Quiet after break, though, and couldn’t stop Willock’s galloping run to set up winner. AFP -
Nampalys Mendy - 7: A lot of unseen work off ball from Senegalese in the screening midfielder role and will feel aggrieved that he was on losing side as he was excellent breaking up play for Foxes. Reuters -
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall - 6: His short corner started move for Lookman’s opener. Brilliant tracking back and well-timed challenge to prevent Saint-Maximin shooting on goal. Curled shot over bar with weaker right foot after finding space on edge of box. Getty -
Ayoze Perez - 6: Former Newcastle attacker teed-up Lookman with clever flick for opening goal. Saw a couple of half-chances blocked by Newcastle defenders. Mixed reception of boos and applause off home fans when taken off in second half. PA -
Ademola Lookman - 7: Put Leicester in front with their first shot on target after being left unmarked in box following well executed corner routine. Was ready to fire home No 2 until well-timed Krafth tackle. Getty -
Patson Daka - 4: Has found goals easier to come by in Foxes’ European campaign than the Premier League. Not given a kick by Newcastle defence and was surprise that he wasn’t hooked until late in game. AFP -
SUBS: James Maddison – (On for Perez 60’) 5: Goal hero against PSV Eindhoven on Thursday but no repeat here. AFP -
Harvey Barnes – (On for Lookman 67’) 5: Leicester were looking for some inspiration and flare from the attacker but he failed to provide any. Getty -
Kelechi Iheanacho – (On for Daka 78’) N/A. AFP
Three points against beaten FA Cup semi-finalists Palace would see Newcastle secure a sixth successive home Premier League win for the first time since April 2004 under Sir Bobby Robson.
“To do that would be an incredible thing for us,” said Howe. “To do anything related to the name Sir Bobby Robson and to try to achieve one of his milestones would be brilliant for us.
“Playing at home, as we’ve always said, is such a unique thing here. It’s such a privilege to play in the stadium and the atmosphere the supporters have created has been fantastic.”
With top-flight status all but guaranteed, Howe can start looking ahead to the summer and taking the club on to the next level.
“We want to score more goals,” said Howe, whose team defeated Leicester City at St James' Park on Sunday thanks to an injury-time diving header from Brazilian midfielder Guimaraes.
“I think our style evolves that way rather than us trying to find it. We want to win and entertain and play in the style everyone wants. We are not there yet.
“We are in the early stages of building. We want the same intensity and desire to win, plus more control and to express ourselves with the ball.”
Leeds United 0 Newcastle 1: gallery
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Jonjo Shelvey celebrates with Kieran Trippier after scoring Newcastle United in their 1-0 Premier League win over Leeds United at Elland Road on Saturday, January 22, 2022. Reuters -
Jonjo Shelvey fires home Newcastle's winning goal from a free-kick. Getty -
Leeds United goalkeeper Illan Meslier fails to keep out Jonjo Shelvey's free-kick. AFP -
Leeds attacker Rodrigo shoots at goal. Getty -
Newcastle attacker Allan Saint-Maximin runs at the Leeds defence. Getty -
Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa. Getty -
Newcastle's Chris Wood and Diego Llorente of Leeds challenge for a header. Reuters -
Jonjo Shelvey scores from a free-kick for Newcastle at Elland Road. -
Newcastle players celebrate after the match. Getty -
Leeds' Mateusz Klich in action against Newcastle. Getty -
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe with his Leeds counterpart Marcelo Bielsa in the background. Getty -
Newcastle's Jonjo Shelvey and Sean Longstaff celebrate after the match. Getty -
Newcastle striker Chris Wood goes for goal. Getty
