'You wonder...' - Eddie Howe future questioned as Newcastle United pay Champions League price

Eddie Howe is approaching five years in the Newcastle United dugout.

Jack Colback believes Eddie Howe will be getting frustrated by Newcastle United’s lack of progress.

The Toon boss was appointed almost five years ago and supercharged the club towards survival. Champions League qualification came the following season and the Saudi-backed project had lift-off.

However, the Magpies have struggled to be regular competitors in the Premier League. Newcastle have twice failed to cope with the added European demands - with financial restrictions also proving a thorn in their side.

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Newcastle United summer window

Toon chiefs have struggled to make early inroads in the transfer market. Ewan Jaouen arrived from Reims but the Magpies missed out on top target Victor Munoz to Liverpool.

Much of the talk has centred around who will leave St James’ Park this summer. Lewis Hall, Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali have all been linked with moves away in recent weeks.

Newcastle desperately need a breakthrough to lift the spirits on Tyneside. Eddie Howe made no secret of his desire to get the business done early.

‘A strange one’ - Jack Colback

Speaking to talkSPORT, former Newcastle midfielder Colback questioned the financial restrictions while suggesting Howe could become fed up. He said: “It's obviously the consequence of them not qualifying for Europe, isn't it? It's just such a strange one because they're the richest club in the world but they can't sign players and they're losing all the best players.

“Even for the fans, they had all this excitement, a lot of years of disappointment and frustration before that and then you get these new owners coming in and you're getting Champions League football.

“They kind of got there probably quicker than you imagined. But then they've not been able to kick on from that and they've then fallen away. They can't seem to sign the players that they need to stay up there. For Eddie Howe, I think he's done an unbelievable job. A few of the players are still there from when I was there. They're still playing games.

“He's had those players in the Champions League. (It will be) frustrating for him, I bet. He's a good guy, he's committed to the job but you wonder how long he can last under those circumstances.”

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