NBC Sports pundits Robbie Mustoe and Robbie Earle have both agreed over the 'crazy' story of Newcastle United's turnaround this season under Eddie Howe.
The Magpies were near the relegation zone at this point last season but now find themselves fourth ahead of Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool off the back of incredible performances by Miguel Almiron and Callum Wilson.
Their most recent win, a 4-0 rout of Aston Villa last weekend, cemented the perception of many that Newcastle can challenge for European football this season.
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Speaking on their podcast The 2 Robbies, Mustoe compared the Magpies' start of last season to their start this campaign and was shocked
"Let's talk about this team because they've gone from - at this point last season - being bottom three, hopeless to top four, four goals, Miguel Almiron on fire at the moment, Eddie Howe going from strength to strength and the Newcastle fans lapping up some attacking, attractive football."
"We should be apologising Rob, because we haven't been talking up Newcastle enough," continued Earle. "I don't feel like Newcastle has been a featured game for us in a while where we give a real detailed look at Newcastle United.
"I hope we get to see more of this because this is really becoming a story. This is such a crazy story because they look like a genuinely good top four threat, contender where I don't think anyone is expecting that development, that improvement just yet.
"I've got to say - I know they spent money in the market - but it's not been crazy money. They've not bought in a crazy amount of top players where you'd expect them to be challenging, they just haven't.
"This is a situation where the manager Eddie Howe was a great bit of business and he's... 'overachieving' with this group? I think it's been brilliant. Alexander Isak is out of the side, Allan Saint-Maximin is out of the side and now they're talking about him having to do a good job to actually get back in!"
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