Newcastle brush aside Leicester to make it six Premier League wins in a row

Newcastle showed they can be part of the Premier League title race, moving  second in the table with a 3-0 win at Leicester.

The six-week break has not derailed what is turning out to be a memorable season under Eddie Howe – the Magpies blitzed to the three points at the King Power after a sensational opening 32 minutes.

Chris Wood’s penalty and a sublime Miguel Almiron strike put them 2-0 up after only seven minutes, with Joelinton adding a third just after the half-hour mark.

There was no way back for Leicester and the Magpies moved four points behind leaders Arsenal, who were playing later on Boxing Day.

It may be 45 days since their last one, but this was a sixth Premier League win in a row – their best run since 2012 – as Howe’s side proved that an outstanding first half of the season was not a flash in the pan.

There is a long way to go and it remains to be seen whether the Magpies have the quality to keep pace with Arsenal and Manchester City, but with the January transfer window coming up Newcastle fans will be dreaming of at least a top-four finish for the first time in 20 years.

Leicester, without James Maddison, were sunk by Newcastle’s rapid start and were unable to recover as they put in a performance that resembled their early-season struggles.

Brendan Rodgers would have not envisaged his side being two down after only seven minutes, with Newcastle electric from the start.

They went ahead in the third minute from the penalty spot as Chris Wood, in for the ill Callum Wilson, fired home emphatically after Daniel Amartey had hacked down Joelinton.

It was 2-0 four minutes later as Almiron continued the blistering form he showed before the World Cup by scoring a picturebook goal.

After being set free down the