Peter Crouch believes Newcastle United are building up a head of steam under manager Eddie Howe, with the ex-Liverpool striker claiming the Magpies will be the envy of the Premier League's relegations strugglers.
When Howe arrived on Tyneside in November following the departure of embattled manager Steve Bruce, Newcastle were embroiled in a relegation battle, having not tasted a league win yet.
It took until December 4 for the Magpies to win in the Premier League, when they beat Burnley 1-0 at St James' Park courtesy of a Callum Wilson strike.
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Since the turn of the year, Newcastle have gone on a rampant run that has seen them collect a whopping 32 points from a possible 48, with Crouch claiming that all the teams threatened by relegation are "hoping to do an Eddie Howe".
"All of the bottom five have sacked managers this season," said Crouch in his Daily Mail column. "They have to these days, because patience guarantees nothing with huge money at stake.
"They are all hoping to do an Eddie Howe, because Newcastle United are the best example of something working following a change in management. I was up there on Saturday for the Liverpool game and Howe is really building momentum, you can feel it around St James’ Park.
"They were the only team not to have won a single game, and found themselves five points from safety, when he was appointed in November. He had a tough time at Bournemouth towards the end but it’s become obvious that the Newcastle players have bought into his methods. Being able to spend a bit of money in the transfer market has helped too."
"They might all hope for Howe but life does not always work like that. Sometimes it doesn’t click, for whatever reason, beyond the briefest of bounces. See the three managers Watford have been through this season for evidence of that."
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