Howe warns Newcastle to be 'very careful' and admits to 'huge gap'

Given they have as good as sprinted the second half of a marathon, there is no great shame in Newcastle's race appearing to be run.

They have been on TV in recent weeks more so because of interest in the opposition, and not because of wider fascination in their own top-flight peril. Such jeopardy evaporated in early March when they took 20 points from 24. For that, they deserve enormous credit.

But even allowing for tired limbs and fuzzy minds, afternoons such as this at Manchester City - as well as last weekend's 1-0 defeat by Liverpool - do serve as a reminder of how far Newcastle must journey before they are considered genuine rivals of such opponents.

This analysis would be pointless had Newcastle not declared their ambition to compete with the likes of City, cosy 5-0 victors here. But contending for titles is where the Saudi-backed Magpies want to be, and not at some distant day in the future.

Their form this calendar year - only City and Liverpool had been better prior to May - might have suggested an acceleration in making a grab for the coattails of the top two.

In reality, they are miles behind. So are everyone else, of course. But if Newcastle thought that Eddie Howe's meticulous management and gradual investment would bridge the gap to City and Liverpool in the next three-to-five years, they are probably mistaken. The cold truth is that revolution and not evolution - the owners would prefer the latter - is the only way to play catch-up over a truncated period.

Howe disagrees, perhaps as much in the knowledge that Newcastle's transfer spend this summer will not be as lavish as some expect.

'There is a huge gap between us and Liverpool and Manchester City, but that would be the same for most clubs in the Premier