Eddie Howe proving pundits wrong by delivering what they said he couldn't for Newcastle United

Eddie Howe has transformed Newcastle from relegation certainties to top-half candidates in less than four months. After a difficult start - with just one win in his opening 10 games - the fruits of Howe’s labour on the training ground are finally paying off and Premier League football next season looks a formality.

It is easy to forget just how perilous the table looked when the former Bournemouth boss arrived on the scene at St James’ Park. A 1-1 draw with Brighton in November left Newcastle winless and five points adrift from safety - despite playing a game more than 17th-placed Leeds.

Fast forward to the present and the Magpies are second in the form table, unbeaten in eight, have won five of their last six games - conceding just five goals in the process. Howe’s achievement has seen him nominated for the Premier League’s manager of the month award for February.

However, in November, approval for the 44-year-old was not universal and several pundits were critical of his appointment. Some suggested he wasn't the right fit for Newcastle and pointed to his relegation with Bournemouth.

In his SportsKeeda column, Paul Merson wrote: “Eddie Howe is evidently going to become the club’s manager this month but I don’t think that whets the appetite of the Newcastle fanbase. I like Eddie Howe as a manager, but I’m not sure he’s going to rock the boat with the players at his disposal.”

Video: West Ham 1-1 Newcastle | Eddie Howe's post-match press conference (Chronicle Live)

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John Stahl