'Crazy' - Lee Ryder left gobsmacked as Newcastle news emerges

Newcastle United journalist Lee Ryder has been left gobsmacked by the club’s revised fixture schedule. 

The Premier League have announced the fixture amendments for March and as it stands, Newcastle will be playing four games in the space of nine days.

The run starts with a trip to Southampton, originally pencilled in for Sunday 2 January before it was postponed, on 10 March.

Eddie Howe’s side then to travel to reigning European champions Chelsea on 13 March before a third consecutive away fixture at Everton (rescheduled from 30 December) on 17 March.

Perhaps the real headline, though, is that the fourth game against Crystal Palace is currently due to kick-off less than 44 hours after the Goodison Park clash.

In a tweet on Friday afternoon, Ryder, The Chronicle’s chief Newcastle writer, said that The Magpies were facing a ‘potentially crazy schedule’ after the games were rearranged.

It remains to be seen if the Palace game – which could see Howe forced to ring the changes or risk injuries – is moved.

The St James’ Park meeting takes place on FA Cup sixth round weekend, so if Palace get past Stoke City in round five, then it’ll be a reprieve for The Toon.

Either way, Newcastle can at least take solace from the fact that the clubs around them will also face a more intense schedule than usual at this time of year.

Leeds United and Watford are two games down, Everton three and bottom-of-the-table Burnley a whopping four.

In other news, Newcastle are eyeing this exciting talent in France.

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