Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe has warned his side there is no "magic solution" to ensuring his team finish the season strongly in the Premier League.
The Magpies go into their last nine games beginning with a tough trip to Tottenham Hotspur before a spate of home matches against Wolverhampton Wanderers, Leicester City and Crystal Palace, a period that could well cement the club's top-flight place next season. Howe's team have returned from a Middle East training camp in Dubai and will resume their preparations for Spurs in due course.
In what has been a relatively positive 2022 so far Howe's team built up an unbeaten record of nine games before losing narrowly at Everton and Chelsea. But they still sit on 31 points and are within swinging distance of Premier League safety.
READ MORE - Dwight Gayle back on the scoresheet
Looking ahead to the run-in, Howe said: "There is no magic solution. It only boils down to hard work. There are no words you can say necessarily to transform your group.
"It has to come from the work you do day to day to try to improve your philosophy, identity and your way of playing. I firmly believe in that process."
Howe has watched on in Dubai as injured players like Kieran Trippier and Callum Wilson have stepped up their recoveries from foot and calf injuries respectively. Wilson has hinted he could be back in time for the Norwich trip while Trippier has set no specific return date.
Howe said: "Getting Callum back would be a massive lift. Whenever a player returns and see them on the grass it's a great thing. We hope to get him back and he would be a massive player to get back as we go into the final few games."
Newcastle rounded off their stay at the Nad Al Sheba Sports Complex with a 5-0 win over Gulf United. Dwight Gayle (2), Allan Saint-Maximin (2) and Joelinton were the goalscorers.
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