While recent results have undoubtedly been disappointing, few would doubt Newcastle remain in the race for the top four.
Eddie Howe’s side sit in sixth place before Sunday’s Premier League action but boast three games in hand over Tottenham in fourth, with two in hand over an inconsistent Liverpool team in fifth.
Certainly, the Magpies cannot be ruled out of the running, even if they have hit a rocky run of form of late.
Spurs boss Antonio Conte, after all, is not yet counting his chickens.
Conte namechecks Newcastle as major competitors
The Italian was speaking after his side beat Nottingham Forest 3-1 on Saturday to tighten their grip on fourth spot.
Still, Newcastle will overtake them if they win their three games in hand. A tough ask of course but at least their destiny is in their own hands.
“Newcastle is a competitor but Newcastle is a different Newcastle to the past,” he said via the Evening Standard.
“They invest a lot of money and they have a strong team.”
Such has been the good work done by both Howe and the club’s recruitment staff, they offer a genuine and sustained challenge to the established elite.
So strong are their foundations that even a blip has done little to completely ruin their chances, unlike in years gone by when various Newcastle teams would fall at the first hurdle no matter the challenge.
Favourable run of fixtures will define Newcastle’s season
Though football rarely works as simply as this of course, Howe’s side have a favourable run of fixtures in order to mount a fresh challenge on the top four.
They play Wolves, Nottingham Forest, West Ham and Aston Villa between now and mid-April, with Manchester United and Brentford the only current top-half teams lying in wait until that point.
If there’s ever going to be a chance to build up the kind of momentum that took Newcastle so far before the World Cup, it is surely this period.