Inside Newcastle United's January window after £90million spree - and squad decision facing Eddie Howe

Newcastle United's January shopping needs prompted a similar response from both rival fans and pundits alike this month as they sneered: "Don't expect it to be like Football Manager!"

The reality is you won't find many Newcastle fans who thought the club were just going to maraud their way through January and expect to sign world stars.

Many wondered what was feasible while others viewed it as a test to see whether the club's newfound riches could genuinely end some barren years in the transfer market.

All they wanted to see was some ambition and effort in the transfer market - and that's precisely what they've got throughout an exhausting but worthwhile month.

Perhaps the greatest feature of it all has been the response when some deals didn't come off.

Rather than just give up and deliver hard luck stories like the regime that came before them or utter: "We couldn't quite get it over the line", instead the new consortium worked at and either matched asking prices or went elsewhere for another target.

They end the trading month with a host of more than respectable signings including England's right-back in Kieran Trippier and Brazil's deep-lying midfielder Bruno Guimarães.

The Matt Targett loan from Aston Villa was probably one of the deals of the day on deadline day, while Dan Burn and Chris Wood will bring much-needed height and aerial prowess into the side after their moves from Brighton and Burnley.

Overall, this has been a very good window for Newcastle United.

But now the challenge is very much there for all to see for the Magpies.

Can the rejuvenated black and whites stay up with 17 matches to go?

With Newcastle just one point from safety as things stand you'd like to think they have every chance of survival