What's gone wrong at Newcastle?

The squad has been stretched - they were still technically fighting on three fronts as recently as last month - and it is only in recent weeks that Howe has had the luxury of extended training time with his players.

There were one or two signs of improvement against Arsenal at the weekend, but the fact remains Newcastle have only won three league games since mid-January.

Too often have you not known what you are going to get with this fragile side, even before uncertainty appeared to grip one or two individuals, whose futures look to be away from the club.

Just as they can beat Manchester United with 10 men, go to Chelsea and win and come within seconds of a famous home victory over Barcelona, Newcastle can also suffer damaging defeats by Sunderland, Crystal Palace and Bournemouth.

Newcastle's inability to build on openers and their vulnerability at the back means they have thrown away more points from winning positions (25) and conceded more late goals (19) than any other team in the Premier League.

Those are sobering statistics for any manager, regardless of what he has done previously, and Howe looks like someone who has been frantically searching for a solution.

While the system and substitutions have become a little predictable, Howe's team selection has been anything but in recent weeks as he looks to find a winning formula.

It still feels like there is much to play for.