'It's relentless - but we need to start climbing'

EDDIE Howe needs no reminding that he will be judged by Newcastle United owners on the club’s Premier League position this season.

- By LEE RYDER Chief Newcastle writer

The Toon chief has warned his players they need to start making progress up the table soon, 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.

The ambitious Saudi backers have their eyes on the top prize of winning an English topflight title for the first time since 1927, and while Carabao Cup success and glory in Europe is welcome, knocking Liverpool and Man City off their perch is high on the agenda in Riyadh.

Despite sitting 13th in the table before this weekend's game, the Magpies have still won seven from the last 10 in all competitions - a situation Howe admits he would have taken at the start of that sequence.

But Howe suggested he knows what the overall narrative on Tyneside is these days, after four years in the job and a huge spending spree.

And despite the’ struggles, Howe believes he could not have asked for more from his players.