NEWCATSLE United fans only ever wanted a team that would reflect their passion on the pitch. This was beyond the Magpies during the dark days of the Mike Ashley era, but the current side is becoming a team their fans can be proud of. The Newcastle team that drew against Manchester City was unrecognisable from the one Eddie Howe inherited.

Many will put this down to the money spent at St James’ Park since the Saudi Arabia-led takeover of Newcastle United last year, and that has certainly been a factor. Over £150m has been splurged on new players in the last two transfer windows with the likes of Bruno Guimaraes, Sven Botman and Kieran Trippier all now first team figures in the north east.

But Newcastle’s most successful addition so far has been the one they made in the dugout – Eddie Howe. Questions were asked of Howe’s appointment. The 44-year-old hadn’t worked since suffering relegation from the Premier League with Bournemouth and so his stock was significantly lower than it had been in the past, when Howe had been credibly linked with Arsenal and even England.

Jose Mourinho, Mauricio Pochettino and Erik ten Hag were all linked with the Newcastle United after Steve Bruce was sacked by the club’s new owners, so fans could be forgiven for being underwhelmed by Howe’s arrival. Since then, though, Howe has restored his reputation as one of the best English coaches working in the sport.

Howe has built a Newcastle United team that is more than the sum of its parts. Only four sides (Liverpool, Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal) have earned more points in the Premier League in 2022 than the Magpies. European qualification will be well within Newcastle’s grasp if that form continues over the course of the season.

Under Bruce, Newcastle defended deep and relied on the individual talent of players like Callum Wilson and Allan Saint-Maximin to score goals. With Howe at the helm, though, Newcastle have become a proactive team with the ability to press high. This was demonstrated in the performance against Sunday during which the Premier League champions were unsettled by the hosts’ high energy.

“He’s has done a top-class job,” Pep Guardiola said when asked for his opinion on Howe’s success since taking over as Newcastle manager. “You can see his team is growing. Newcastle have everything; they have pace, they have quality. They made it very physical, it’s a very difficult place to come. We started very well but Newcastle were so aggressive, we didn’t have control. Newcastle are becoming one of the toughest opponents but we created a lot of chances and, in the end, we showed who we are.”

Not only are Newcastle United more proactive out of possession than they were before Howe’s appointment, they are more assertive in possession too. Newcastle’s average share of possession under Bruce last season stood at 37%. That number has risen to 45.4% this season, which is even better when factoring in that one of Newcastle’s three fixtures was against possession-hungry Manchester City.

Howe has given his Newcastle United team a structure. This, however, has not come at the cost of attacking expression. Another injury to Wilson could impact the Magpies’ potency in front of goal, but they currently have enough in the final third to trouble any opponent in the Premier League this season. Further additions are also expected before the end of the transfer window.

Newcastle United have taken a different approach to the one many expected them to take after last year’s takeover. There may come a time when the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland are lured to St James’ Park to play for a manager like Mourinho or Pochettino, but Howe is making his own mark right now.