More Questions Than Answers As Newcastle Yet To Catch Fire

There person surely been glimpses of what this squad could beryllium successful caller weeks.

There was a devastating first-half show against Chelsea, a spirited hr distant to Paris St-Germain and a good opening half an hr aliases truthful astatine Anfield.

But games are not won successful snatches.

It has been a vexation of nan coaching unit that they person lacked nan training clip during an unrelenting tally of fixtures to really activity connected things and portion it each together for illustration they person during erstwhile sticky spells.

Instead nan players person travel to trust connected gathering rooms, study sessions and walk-throughs.

This is nan reality of life astatine clubs who aspire to conflict connected aggregate fronts, of course, but competing successful 4 competitions was an unprecedented feat for Newcastle going into February.

The relentless quality of nan schedule has had a knock-on effect connected nan squad - Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton, Tino Livramento and Fabian Schar are each presently sidelined, while Anthony Gordon hobbled disconnected pinch a hamstring rumor connected Wednesday night.

It has besides had an effect connected nan adjustment of Newcastle's summertime signings who, speech from defender Malick Thiaw, are still uncovering their feet astatine nan club.

Thiaw, Jacob Ramsey, Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa each joined successful nan last fortnight aliases truthful of a turbulent window, successful which nan nine operated without a sporting head and missed retired connected a big of apical targets.

Newcastle, remarkably, are still searching for a settled operation successful nan last 3rd contempt spending £179m connected forwards.

Elanga enjoyed a lively second-half cameo astatine nan Etihad, but Woltemade was substituted astatine half-time - having grounded to people since December - while nan rusty Wissa missed a big of bully chances successful some legs.

It leaves Newcastle pinch much questions than answers arsenic they embark connected a crunch tally of fixtures.

"Where does that time off our season?" Howe asked. "We're still fighting connected respective fronts.

"The games are coming heavy and fast. There's nary let-up for us. We request to get backmost to winning ways arsenic quickly arsenic possible. It's nan only point that gives you caller energy."