The 1-1 draw against Manchester United was Newcastle’s 19th game of the campaign, meaning they have completed exactly half of their league games.
With just one win, one clean sheet and three managers in those games, it’s fair to say that their season hasn’t gone to plan.
However, the January transfer window does offer some hope that Howe and his side can drag themselves away from relegation danger in the second-half of the campaign.
As many supporters look ahead to the January window, we take a look back at the season so far and grade each player on how they have performed so far this season.
Do you agree with our ratings? Have we under or over graded someone? If so, follow us on Twitter @MouthofTynePod and let us know there:
Note: Players must have played a minimum of 600 minutes to qualify for a grade.
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9. Karl Darlow: C
After suffering badly from Covid in summer, Darlow started the campaign on the sidelines and didn’t make his first appearance until mid-September. A solid stint in goal ended with him making a few mistakes that led to goals. Photo: Stu Forster
10. Martin Dubravka: C+
Dubravka has shown why he is Newcastle’s no.1, however, mistakes have started creeping into his game. Although they haven’t proved costly yet, he will want to eradicate these before they become too regular. Photo: Stu Forster
11. Jonjo Shelvey: B-
Shelvey played a key role under Steve Bruce but has stepped up a gear under Eddie Howe. His overall game seems to have improved drastically under new management and one of the biggest compliments you can pay is that when he is absent from the midfield, Newcastle tend to fare worse than when he is in the starting XI. Photo: Stu Forster
12. Ryan Fraser: B-
Many supporters have been left frustrated that Fraser seemed to perform better for his country than he has for his club. However, since Howe’s appointment, he has shown plenty of energy and quality out wide and has shown why he became a favourite at the Vitality Stadium. Photo: Shaun Botterill