"We are not ready": Dan Burn gives honest assessment of Newcastle United's current squad capabilities
As was the case last time around, competing on four fronts this season is causing Newcastle United no end of problems when it comes to injuries.
While Newcastle's squad is arguably deeper this time around than the last time the Magpies competed in the Champions League, the weight of the extra games is still taking its toll. Combined with another Carabao Cup run and progression into the fourth round of the FA Cup, the games show no sign of relenting.
This season, it has been the defence that has suffered the most with so many injuries affecting the back line, which is making rotation very difficult for Eddie Howe.
As we've also mentioned before, some players simply aren't performing at the right level and are making it hard for Howe to have any confidence in putting them in the side ahead of first-team regulars.
Dan Burn feels Newcastle's squad isn't ready to compete for the Premier League title
It's an issue that is not lost on Dan Burn, who told Sky Sports (h/t The Chronicle) that the way the game is nowadays, having a strong squad is a necessity.
"The way the game is going, it is so quick and there are so many games. I think it is going to be part and parcel; you need a big squad, and you need to rotate for games. That's just something that comes with it.
"I'm sure the gaffer said at the Press conference the other week. We are not a team ready to challenge for the title.
"If we can't win the league, the cups are the things we can attack. Obviously, Arsenal can go on all four fronts, but the cups are the ones we can put pressure on and try to win."
PSR is the big reason why Newcastle's squad aren't ready to be title contenders
It seems that the gaffer and the players are very aware of Newcastle's current limitations, but I guess it's hard not to be if we can see it from the outside, it's probably even more apparent internally.
This is exactly why we don't feel changing managers will benefit Newcastle, because what Eddie Howe is able to do with such a fragile squad, we're not sure many others could match.
PSR is preventing us from building the squad we need in the timeframe we need it, so we're going to have to build up slowly. In the meantime, we'll keep over-achieving and surprising everyone.
