It would be fair to say Newcastle United have hit a rocky patch of late.
Six losses in seven games have seen Newcastle fall out of European football, the Carabao Cup and lose ground in the race to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
Things do not get any easier in the schedule either with the first two games of 2024 offering trips to Liverpool and Sunderland, both of which raise different challenges at a time when Eddie Howe’s side have won only once on the road in the Premier League all season.
Boxing Day’s defeat at home to Nottingham Forest, meanwhile, was labelled as “shocking” by club legend Alan Shearer.
Still, although things aren’t going particularly well right now, little can be read into Amanda Staveley’s visit to the dressing room after the loss to Forest. It has been claimed the trip down was no reflection on the result as the financer was just offering support to the team.
However, questions have reportedly been asked.
Newcastle United: What has been questioned behind the scenes
According to The Chronicle, Newcastle’s injury crisis has not gone unnoticed.
Indeed, questions are believed to have been asked about the sheer scale of absentees Newcastle have had to deal with this season during Staveley’s visit to the training ground last week.
Other than that, the mood at Benton was said to have been positive.
Newcastle injury crisis: Through the worst of it
Newcastle were finally able to name a strong (ish) squad for the loss to Forest, albeit that makes the manner of the performance even more galling.
Sven Botman started while the likes of Callum Wilson and Tino Livramento were afforded a rest, even if things didn’t go to plan on the pitch.
Though the likes of Shearer have denied that fatigue alone can be the reason for Newcastle’s slump of late, the fact so many players have had to play so often due to the crisis cannot be ignored.
Hopefully, Newcastle are now through the very worst of it.
Receive a digest of our best Newcastle content each week direct to your mailbox
