Eddie Howe talks up importance of being at home on Sunday as Crystal Palace come to St James' Park
Newcastle United host Crystal Palace at St James' Park on Sunday in a 3 pm kick-off live on Sky Sports.
In what feels like a first for Newcastle this season, we're playing a side that has had less time to rest and recuperate after Crystal Palace played last night, and Newcastle's last game was three nights ago.
Palace played out a 1-1 draw with Fulham on New Year's Day, while Newcastle go into Sunday's game on the back of a 3-1 win away at Burnley.
It was only Newcastle's second away win in the Premier League this season, but the lads are back on home turf on Sunday and Eddie Howe knows how important that will be.
Eddie Howe is excited to be back at St James' Park to kick off season-defining month
Speaking in his Friday morning press conference, Eddie Howe spoke of the threat Crystal Palace will pose, but emphasised how much of an advantage being at St James' Park will be on the day.
"Any home game for us is a positive. We've been really good at home for a long time. We prepare to play there and the more we can minimise travel in a hectic schedule will be good for us. January will be a season-defining month for us. The start to the month needs to be a fruitful one for us.
"It will be a difficult game, their away form is very good. They're solid, tough to score against and it goes without saying how good a job I think Oliver has done. They've lost a few players but they are still a very good team and a team we can't underestimate and won't underestimate. We are boosted by the fact we are back at home but it is a game we need to prepare well for."
Newcastle are a 'second half of the season' team
Historically, under Eddie Howe, the turn of the year has been when we've turned up the heat, so a good January will set us up for a strong second half to the season.
We'd obviously love to get to a stage where we can be as consistent in the first half of the season, too, and when that time comes, we can start dreaming about being genuine title challengers.
But we're getting ahead of ourselves. Let's get the three points on Sunday and kick off a good run of results and save this season.
