POSITION IS NINE TENTHS OF THE LAW

Howe knows the Prem table is ultimate measure of success

- BY LEE RYDER

EDDIE HOWE knows he will be judged on the club's Premier League position this season by Newcastle's ambitious owners.

The Toon chief has warned his players they need to start making progress up the table, with Brentford the next big test for the travel-sick black and whites.

Newcastle have not won an away game since April in the Premier League, but are in the top six of the Champions League.

Their Saudi backers have their eyes on winning an English topflight title for the first time since 1927.

Carabao Cup success and glory in Europe is welcome, but knocking Liverpool and Manchester City off their perch is high on the agenda in Riyadh.

Despite sitting in 13th place, the Magpies have won seven games from the last 10 in all competitions - a situation Howe admits he would have taken at the start of that sequence.