Magpies fly into second place with victory at Leicester

LEICESTER: “And now you’re going to believe us, we’re going to win the league.”

The cry from the Newcastle United fans at the King Power Stadium was loud and clear; the message from the pitch will be heeded in London, Manchester, and beyond.

A Chris Wood penalty, another memorable Miguel Almiron strike, and a first of the season for Joelinton in a first-half blitz put Leicester City to the sword and saw the Magpies climb up to second in the Premier League table.

Just 12 months ago, almost to the day, United were hammered 4-0 at the same venue, pushing them deeper into the relegation mire.

What a difference a year makes: a seven-goal swing, and United never really got out of second gear.

Eddie Howe is building an empire at Newcastle United, one seemingly built on solid, PIF-funded foundations.

Many wondered how the Magpies would return from the break, whether momentum would be lost due to the mid-season World Cup.

Howe & Co answered those critics emphatically with an impressive dismantling of Brendan Rodgers’ side, one of the top flight’s pre-Qatar form teams.

Break? It was business as usual for United who, although unchanged from the side who beat Chelsea last time out in the Premier League, did name a starting XI with one surprise omission in the East Midlands.

England frontman Callum Wilson was again absent, as he has been all too often in the last few seasons, and it was an illness which meant he did not travel with his fellow Magpies.

He is expected to be fit for the visit of Leeds United on Dec. 31, but his teammates did not miss him one bit as they raced into the lead within two minutes.

Wood netted from the spot after Joelinton had been felled in the area by Daniel Amartey. The striker is making quite