A closer look at Howe fortunes have changed for Newcastle

Eddie Howe knew he had a major job on his hands when he walked into St James’ Park to take up the Newcastle reins in November.

Mike Ashley’s departure as owner had left long-suffering supporters dreaming of a brighter future under Amanda Staveley’s Saudi-backed consortium, but knowing the very real prospect of relegation from the Premier League would hurl a spanner into the works.

A little more than three months on and, with the help of a £90milion January spending spree, they have gained a significant foothold in the battle for survival.

Here, the PA news agency takes a look at what has changed:

The day Howe slipped into the hotseat, Newcastle sat in 19th place in the table, five points adrift of safety, the same number they had managed to collect from their first 11 league games. They have taken 16 from the 12 matches they have played since, 11 of them from the most recent five to ease themselves four clear of the drop zone. Perhaps significantly, two of their three league clean sheets to date have come in the last three fixtures.

Where under Ashley, Newcastle looked for potential they could later sell on at a profit, they have invested in proven talent under their new owners. England full-back Kieran Trippier, who is facing weeks on the sidelines after fracturing a metatarsal during Sunday’s victory over Aston Villa, looks a steal at £12million, while £13million defender Dan Burn made an accomplished debut in the same game. Loan signing Matt Targett and £25million striker Chris Wood have also made an impact, while fans have so far only seen tantalising glimpses of the exciting talent big money buy Bruno Guimaraes possesses.

If the new additions have been key to the upturn in fortunes, so too has the vastly improved