Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool and Aston Villa are the only teams to have picked up more points in the Premier League than Newcastle United since Eddie Howe took charge in November 2021.

Eddie Howe felt a lump in his throat as the open-top bus turned the corner. A giant tifo of the emotional Newcastle United head coach had been unfurled down the front of a city centre hotel to loud cheers and chants of "Eddie Howe's black and white army". It was a mark of how Geordies had taken this one-time outsider to their hearts after ending Newcastle's seven-decade wait to win a major domestic trophy in March 2025.

About 150,000 supporters lined the streets to celebrate that EFL Cup win, but it was hard to imagine a more contrasting scene before the one-year anniversary last month. St James' Park had rapidly emptied by the time Howe and his players set off on their lap of appreciation after a damaging derby defeat by Sunderland. There were some on the terraces who stayed behind to clap the team off, but others showed their displeasure by booing after a meek display left Newcastle 12th in the Premier League.

The shift in mood was not lost on season ticket holder Adam Stoker, who feels Howe has the rest of the campaign to show he is still the "right man going forward". "I couldn't be happier for what he has been able to provide for us," he said. "Five years ago I never expected to be sitting here having finally won a trophy and seen two more Champions League campaigns. Eddie Howe has been hugely responsible for that and every Newcastle fan should be incredibly grateful for everything he has done. But what he's done in the past doesn't necessarily mean he's the man for the future. There's a lot riding on this end to the season and there needs to be an improvement when it comes to both results and performances. If we don't see signs of future progress then, absolutely, there should be pressure."

So what do the hierarchy think? What is in store for Newcastle this summer? And would a strong end to the season change things? Those at the top remain behind Howe. Chief executive David Hopkinson was hardly unequivocal in his backing last week and made it clear he expected a strong finish to the campaign. But the Canadian stressed Newcastle were "not having those conversations" about a change of manager "at the moment".

With Newcastle estimated to have the eighth-highest wage bill in the top flight, whether or not the club are getting enough bang for their buck would be a consideration when the season is reviewed after a £100m-plus net spend last summer. Howe has credit in the bank, but the hierarchy have been vocal in their ambition to become one of the world's top clubs by 2030.

Change is already afoot elsewhere. Last weekend's announcement that defender Kieran Trippier is leaving at the end the season felt like a sign of things to come. Newcastle are gearing up for another busy summer and are preparing for separate scenarios in the transfer market, depending on whether they qualify for Europe or not.

If Newcastle fail to maintain their Champions League status, and lose out on the associated financial benefits, it is understood they will need to sell at least one - potentially two - prized assets in order to strengthen for the 2026-27 campaign. Strategic trading is going to become a key part of Newcastle's model as the club look to boost revenues to reinvest in the squad while still complying with financial rules.

Some of their best players - Sandro Tonali, Anthony Gordon, Bruno Guimaraes and Tino Livramento - are already attracting Premier League interest. With Manchester United, Manchester City and Arsenal all eyeing central midfielders, Tonali will generate a market Newcastle can use to their financial benefit.

Livramento is of long-term interest to Arsenal and City, although the England full-back's injury disrupted season may create difficulties for any sale. Gordon, too, is rated highly by Arsenal, who have identified a new left-winger as a priority position this summer.

Howe is experienced enough to know selling is a necessity at certain clubs and in certain situations. Sources insist the head coach's appetite to rebuild the squad has not waned. When he is in, he is all in. But after experiencing the most difficult summer of his career last year, Howe will know another draining window awaits.

Howe cannot afford to think that far ahead, given the games to come. A late push for Europe would put a different complexion on a bruising domestic campaign. But Newcastle must go on a run to do so, which they have failed to do all season.

When Anthony Elanga openly asked whether the dressing room could show they were fighting for the head coach "again, again and again", in a previous interview with BBC Sport, the forward was alluding to his side's inconsistency. "We want to keep on fighting for him because he's helped us so much," he said. "I'd even go as far to say he is one of the best managers I've worked for. I'm really grateful to have him as a manager and I try to take everything he says to me on board because I know it's for my benefit. I know he will help me so much. All the players feel the same."

Yet you never quite know what you are going to get from Howe's team this term. Just as Newcastle can beat Manchester United with 10 men and record a rare win at Chelsea, this leaky side can also capitulate and concede seven goals in the Nou Camp or throw away a half-time lead against Sunderland. All in the same month.

Is there a degree of mitigation for the ups and downs of a campaign where Newcastle reached the last 16 of the Champions League and a third EFL Cup semi-final in four years, but also suffered 13 Premier League defeats? Even as far back as the autumn, there was a belief internally there would be choppy waters to navigate following a turbulent summer.

Newcastle missed out on a host of top-choice targets, buckled and eventually sold star striker Alexander Isak to Liverpool on deadline day and tackled a crucial window without a chief executive and sporting director in place. Also, whereas the so-called 'big six' are used to fighting on multiple fronts, with deeper squads, this has been relatively uncharted territory for Newcastle, who have played more games (51) than any other side in Europe's top five leagues this season.

Such has been the relentless nature of the schedule, there has been a feeling within the camp that they "can't breathe" at times. But the squad will soon be lifted by the return of talisman Guimaraes, who is understood to have been "working hard every single day" after being sidelined with a hamstring issue, as well as midfielder Lewis Miley and defender Fabian Schar.

Howe will also have clear weeks to prepare for the final seven matches of the season - and a rare extended period to intensively work with record signing Nick Woltemade following the German forward's curious recent stint in midfield.

The head coach and his staff will need no reminding they need to make that time count in what feels like a defining few months on Tyneside.

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