Eddie Howe hoping for Newcastle’s return to “full confidence” during hectic January

Newcastle United Head Coach Eddie Howe has made clear his hopes that the Magpies can return to the best version of themselves during what is set to be a busy month of January.Howe said that there “is a lot more to come” from his side in the Premier League this season, but that the two recent wins over Burnley and Crystal Palace were “a big step in the right direction”.Newcastle were not at their best in either victory, but crucially got over the line on both occasions to claim six points. The Magpies now sit in 9th place in the league table, and just two points off a potential Champions League place currently occupied by Chelsea in 5th.“When you’re playing a lot of games, you want to feel good”, Howe said, alluding to the hectic fixture schedule that Newcastle have in January. He added that he and his players were experiencing a “different emotion” ahead of the Burnley match, but having won there and against Palace, Newcastle can really kick on.Eddie Howe, his staff and players will know that playing with belief and confidence will help to build momentum. By achieving two wins in the type of fixture that they have found difficult to navigate this season, this could be a springboard moment.All at the club are very aware that this has been an inconsistent season, devoid of winning runs that have aided their success in recent seasons. However, given the abundance of matches to come, in a variety of competitions, the Magpies have the opportunity to transform what has been a stuttering campaign into a memorable one.Next up for Newcastle is another home fixture in midweek against Leeds United, before two more outings at St. James’ Park in the following days, against Bournemouth in the FA Cup, and then Manchester City in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg. Get full access to North East Football TV at www.northeastfootballtv.com/subscribe