'Motivated': Eddie Howe reflects on Newcastle's start to the season after grinding out results

To take a look at the Premier League table you'd think that Newcastle United had got off to a roaring start to the 2024/25 campaign.

Sitting in third place behind Arsenal and Manchester City, Newcastle are right where they want to be, in that top four. In fact, the Magpies could go top for a few hours if they beat Fulham at Craven Cottage on Saturday afternoon with City and Arsenal set to meet on Sunday.

The reality is that while Newcastle's results have been great, the performances that got us to this point have been anything but and the side looks very far from one that is likely to finish in the Champions League positions unless their football improves.

Eddie Howe is very much aware that Newcastle could, and should be playing better though, and is obviously working hard to address the problem.

Getty Images

Eddie Howe says Newcastle have not hit fifth gear yet

Speaking to the media this morning (via The Chronicle), Howe praised the team's mentality and spoke of how he feels the team is very close to 'clicking' on the field.

"I see a really motivated team, a motivated squad, that want to do something really special this year. The commitment to our training has been very good."

"Hopefully very close [to clicking]. There are a lot of games when you're not in 'fifth gear' or whatever bracket you put it in, but you can still win games in third and fourth, and that's what we didn't do well enough last year. It's very rare that you get into those moments where everything is going your way, and that's what we're looking for and of course there has to be improvements to key aspects of our game."

Newcastle's luck can only run for so long

It's a sign of a good team when they can come away with the points despite not playing well, however, it's a worry when that's the story of every game.

Newcastle can't rely on that level of luck for much longer and absolutely must start controlling games for more than 15 minutes at the start of a game and 15 minutes at the end as they have been.

Craven Cottage has been a happy hunting ground for Newcastle under Eddie Howe, so it feels like the right time and place for things to come together to get the confidence and the enjoyment back into the fans.