Eddie Howe warns Newcastle players after telling response to Bruno Guimaraes and Burn arrivals

Eddie Howe has warned his victorious Newcastle United players that he will not be afraid to drop them if they don't build on the spirited win against Everton.

Newcastle moved out of the relegation zone for the first time since October following a 3-1 victory against the Toffees at St James' Park on Tuesday night.

Howe's decision to keep faith with the side who beat Leeds in Newcastle's previous game certainly paid off after the Magpies' head coach resisted starting new signings Bruno Guimaraes and Dan Burn.

Although debutant Matt Targett came in for the injured Paul Dummett, that was the only change Howe made from the 1-0 win at Elland Road 17 days previously and, even then, it was enforced.

However, given the increased competition in the squad, those survivors from the Ashley era knew they needed to perform against Everton following the arrival of Kieran Trippier, Chris Wood, Guimaraes, Targett and Burn last month.

Trippier may have been the pick of the bunch on Tuesday night but, perhaps, tellingly, Jamaal Lascelles, Joe Willock, Ryan Fraser and Allan Saint-Maximin were among those who really impressed.

The long-serving Jonjo Shelvey previously admitted that the new signings had created 'that bit of uncertainty in terms of you don't know where you're going to be playing' and that's exactly what Howe wanted.

"Like any team sport, you need pushing," the Newcastle boss told reporters on Zoom. "You're not going to give your best performances if you feel you're comfortable in the team every week. Part of the reason of signing new players is to push them.

"I've always said you don't want the team to pick itself. You don't want easy decisions when you're in my shoes. You want tough calls.

"I had tough calls in this game in