Eddie Howe has built the best defence in the Premier League in Newcastle's rise up the table and urged caution over January spending... but after back-to-back stalemates, do the Saudi-backed Magpies need to strengthen to boost top four hopes?

A year ago, the mood was gloomy around St James' Park.

Despite a marked improvement in performances since Eddie Howe took over from Steve Bruce in November 2021, the threat of relegation was real as the Magpies headed into 2022 joint bottom of the Premier League.

With just one win from their first 18 games and only 10 points, Howe's side had conceded a whopping 41 goals and had much plenty of work to do.

Eddie Howe has transformed them from relegation strugglers to Champions League hopefuls

They were then knocked out of the FA Cup by League One side Cambridge and the only way was up.