Eddie Howe has stressed that there is still more to come from Newcastle United in the second half of the season - even if the challenge 'only gets harder'.
Newcastle have enjoyed a superb campaign so far. Not only are the Magpies flying in third place in the Premier League at the halfway point of the season - Howe's side have also reached their first League Cup semi-final in 47 years.
Those would have been unimaginable feats a year ago, when Newcastle were second from bottom and fighting to stay in the league, but this side have come a long way since then. Newcastle have only lost one Premier League game so far this season, against Liverpool back in August, and the black-and-whites are currently on a club record-equalling 14-game unbeaten run in the top-flight.
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Given that form, it has been easy to forget that Newcastle have been without key players such as Alexander Isak and Allan Saint-Maximin for large periods this season while influential playmaker Jonjo Shelvey has also been sidelined for the majority of the campaign. No wonder Howe feels his side can get better in the months to come - which is ominous for the Magpies' rivals.
"It's been a really good first half of the season for us," he told reporters. "We have improved from the start of the season until now. I think there is still more growth in the team to come.
"I'm very pleased with the players' commitment and what they have delivered for me, the team and the club. We're in a good place, but the challenge only gets harder."
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