United have been lacking leadership

NEWCASTLE United have lacked a bit of 'leadership' on the pitch in recent weeks - an aspect of their performances and results that has been 'ignored'.

- 

That is certainly the view of Magpies head coach Eddie Howe, who feels the absence of the likes of Nick Pope, Dan Burn, Kieran Trippier and Sven Botman has been keenly felt.

All four players have suffered from injuries that kept them out of a number of matches in December which saw Newcastle stutter in the Premier League.

Pope returned to the starting XI in Tuesday's 3-1 win at Burnley, though, and made a number of key saves in the second half as the hosts searched for an equaliser.

Trippier and Botman are close to a return while Newcastle are hopeful Burn could return before the end of the month, too.