'We have to be positive': Newcastle boss Eddie Howe addresses away form ahead of Crystal Palace trip

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has addressed worrying away form that has carried on from last season

The Toon boss, 47 today spoke to the media ahead of the Magpies trip to Crystal Palace on Saturday.

Howe has had to deal with a plethora of injuries in the last year which could have had an impact on his form. Theoretically, Newcastle missed out on European football because of those injuries and the suspension of Sandro Tonali.

The Magpies have a number of players back now with others nearing their return. The prospect of European football should be on the minds of players and staff alike.

One thing that needs to improve however, is away form. Which Newcastle have struggled with since last season.

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Eddie Howe addresses Newcastle United's away form

Despite a win away against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground before the International break, Newcastle have won just two games away from home this season.

Away form has been an issue for some time with the Magpies also having problems on the road last campaign where they lost 11 of their 19 games.

Their historic 2022/23 campaign saw them lose just three games away from home. Form Howe would love to welcome back sooner rather than later.

Howe was asked about away form during Friday's pre-match press conference. He said: "We have to be positive in every respect. The league is still so tight and consecutive wins can elevate you. Our last away performance was very strong and I see no reason we can't deliver that again."

Eddie Howe comments on Callum Wilson's return to the Newcastle United squad

Howe was also asked about Callum Wilson in what is the final year of his contract. William Osula is still yet to be deemed ready for first team football being limited to just 10 minutes of Premier League action.

On Wilson, Howe said: "I think Callum has loads of incentives internally built within him, I wouldn't necessarily have to ask him about those. He is a very driven person and does regularly set himself goals.

"I'm sure his contract is on his mind but I think it will be in the back part of his brain because he will be focusing on the here and now and doesn't things that can affect his long term future for the positive."

"One of the challenges for any modern day player, young player, coming through is the ability to ignore everything apart from obviously the information that you need from people that you respect and have got your best interests at heart.

"So I think Callum's experienced enough to know that and, is very single minded in his pursuit of what he wants and that's one of the biggest qualities he has."