Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe is confident that recent results "can reignite our A-game" after a stalled start to the Premier League campaign.
The Magpies secured a hard-fought 1-0 win over Brentford last Saturday, which was followed midweek by a battling goalless Champions League draw at AC Milan.
The victory at St James' Park – courtesy of a second-half Callum Wilson penalty – brought an end to their three-game Premier League losing streak.
And the draw in Italy, Newcastle's first Champions League group-stage appearance in two decades, was earned despite Milan having 25 shots on goal, which included goalkeeper Nick Pope making five stops in six hectic first-half minutes at the San Siro.
“Going into the Brentford game, we were determined to try to break the run of results we had. We did that,” said Howe, ahead of Sunday's game against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.
“We then got a huge point against Milan with a really good defensive display, so hopefully that platform can reignite our A-game.
“We know there’s growth in that performance. We know we can improve, but it’s only by getting good results, sometimes, that that comes.”
And Howe is confident that a repeat of last season's consistency, that saw them finish fourth in the Premier League, is only round the corner.
“It always goes in phases,” he added. “The level or the potential for the team, the squad, is high but confidence is such an easy word to use, but such a difficult thing to find sometimes.
“Hopefully, the last two results will have given us that missing ingredient back. We needed a win.”
What remains to be seen against the Blades, who have taken one point from a possible 15 this season, is how much the midweek exertions have affected the team.
AC Milan 0 Newcastle 0: Player ratings
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AC Milan ratings: A virtual bystander until he had to go off injured on 78 minutes. Getty -
Roasted by Gordon a couple of times early on. Booked on 40 minutes and then replaced at half-time. AP -
Solid display from the highly-rated German international centre-back. Getty -
Really convincing performance from the England centre-half. Defended calmly and effectively and distributed well from the back. PA -
Caught the eye with his dynamic runs from left-back, carrying the ball 30-40 yards at a time down the flank or through the midfield. Getty -
Strong display deep in the Milan midfield. Took the ball from his defenders and started attacks passing through the lines. Delivered some dangerous set-pieces. Getty -
Workhorse in the Milan midfield. Had a shot cleared off the line in the first half. Getty -
Out of possession did a good job of disrupting Newcastle's key midfielder Bruno Guimares. With the ball surged forward at every opportunity. Picked up a muscle injury in the second half. Getty -
Veered from the sublime to the ridiculous. A constant threat with his pace and trickery but made a real mess of one first-half chance with a comical miskicked back-heel having done all the hard work with a jinking run. Getty -
Missed the best chance of the first half as he failed to convert a near-post cross. Otherwise fairly anonymous. EPA -
Promising first half from the former Villarreal man, who showed glimpses of his pace and skill. Faded after the break and was replaced by Pulisic after an hour. Getty -
AC Milan subs. Florenzi (Calabria, 45'): Added some attacking thrust down the right-hand side after the break. -
Pulisic (Chukwueze, 61'): Ran into a committed Newcastle defensive display late in the piece. Getty -
Reijnders (Pobega, 61'): Highly-rated Dutch international showed plenty of attacking intent and some flashes of quality. -
Musah (Loftus-Cheek, 72'): Very little time to make an impact for the former Valencia player. Reuters -
Sportiello (Maignan, 80'): Good late save to deny Longstaff giving Newcastle an improbable victory. AP -
Newcastle ratings: Made a string of saves throughout the match and was a solid and dependable presence when his side needed him. PA -
Did his best to stem the flow of the lively Leao, played a couple of beautiful passes, one to release Longstaff leading to the midfielder's dive. Crucially nudged Leao off balance as he took on a headed chance. Inspired effort from the skipper. Getty -
All at sea in the first half but defended stoutly down the stretch as Newcastle clung on for a point. Getty -
Like his teammates, recovered from a torrid opening 45 to have a much-improved second half. Getty -
Full of commitment, especially late in the game as the Magpies played out the 0-0 draw. Getty -
Struggled to have his usual influence, although did have Loftus-Cheek breathing down his neck all night. AP -
What Newcastle lacked in quality they made up for in workrate and that was typified by Longstaff who never stopped running. Forced a good save from the sub keeper in dying moments. PA -
Like most of the Newcastle side he endured a difficult opening to the game. That said, he helped steady the ship after that and received a big hand from the Milan fans as he left the action on 70 minutes. Getty -
Preferred to Almiron and Barnes for his defensive workrate and put in a solid shift. Cleared one off the line in the first half. PA -
With Newcastle on the back foot for long periods it wasn't a night where the silky Sweden striker's attacking prowess shone through. Reuters -
Lively start to the game as he continued his good early season form but influence faded and was replaced by Almiron on 63 minutes. Reuters -
Newcastle subs. Almiron (Gordon 63'): Full of running as Newcastle held out for the draw. AP -
Wilson (Murphy 63'): Did his best to offer an outlet with Newcastle under pressure in the closing stages. PA -
Anderson (Tonali 73'): Involved in some bright counter-attacking moments. Barnes (Isak, 90'): N/A.
“You can't measure what emotionally that game has taken out of the players,” said Howe. “Physically you can, but can't mentally, so we have to deal with that.
“If we hadn’t had a European game, this game would still be very difficult, regardless of the emotion given to the game in midweek.
“Add that in and it becomes even more difficult, so we have to deal with all those things, that’s where we are.
“[Sheffield United] have got good athleticism, can counter attack and are good at set pieces. They have got a lot of areas in their team that can hurt us if we're not right.”
But whatever happens on Sunday, Howe insists it would be unfair to criticise after the achievements of a team who went from relegation candidates to finishing in the top four inside 18 months.
“Last year was a season we continued to be very consistent, but this is a totally new challenge this year with largely – and obviously we have made some transfers to add to it – the same group of players,” said Howe.
“My job is to always protect the players. Externally we need to understand the journey we have been on.
“To judge them too harshly, at this stage, would be a big negative and it’s my job to bring that perspective.”
Newcastle will again be without Joelinton and Joe Willock for Sunday's game with Howe suggesting that the Brazilian will be back in action before his midfield colleague.
And Howe also revealed that the club have to remain cautious with striker Wilson's workload after what has been an injury-hit spell since he moved to Tyneside in 2020.
The 31-year-old – who recently signed a one-year contract extension – has been top-scorer every season since he joined, despite his fitness problems.
“We are still missing the two Joes in midfield,” said Howe. “Apart from that we are pretty good. We hope with Joelinton he could be back sooner. With Willock he will out until the international break.
'With Callum we always have to manage his load. That doesn’t change with Callum. Whether it’s a one game week or a three game week, we have to monitor his training and give ourselves the best chance we have with him of him staying with us through the season. So that’s what we will do.”
