Newcastle United's immediate plan for Eddie Howe after stormy weekend

Newcastle United won't bother with any knee-jerk reactions after the late equaliser against Crystal Palace set a negative narrative going into December.

Eddie Howe remains firmly backed by board at St James' Park and, just like the summer when he was linked with England, they expect the man they regard as "an elite coach" to get Newcastle back to winning ways. January will see Howe get some type of backing for new players, whether that is through trading, loans or spending a tight budget.

Sporting director Paul Mitchell headed straight to the dressing rooms at Selhurst Park in a show of support for Howe. But the key for the month ahead is very much staying in the game at St James' Park.

READ MORE: Liverpool's Cody Gakpo sends message to Newcastle United after Man City success

READ MORE: Newcastle United land new sponsorship deal as club supremo speaks out on PSR venture

Internally a target of qualifying for one of the European competitions has been set while the Carabao Cup and FA Cup are both their to be attacked in the eyes of Newcastle chiefs. In what has been a testing 2024 at times, the year now closes out with the home clash to Liverpool this week, a trip to Brentford, Leicester City at St James', a trek to Ipswich, Aston Villa are on Tyneside on Boxing Day and then a trip to Man United on December 30.

In between that little lot is the Carabao Cup clash against Brentford on Gallowgate and nobody needs to be told it will be a season defining night. We'll know Newcastle's fate in the FA Cup later too.

After just four defeats in the Premier League, Newcastle aren't pressing the panic button and aren't likely to any time soon. Although, December will provide a good measuring stick of where United are and how they have adapted to life with Howe, Mitchell and performance director James Bunce on board.

Mitchell does not sound like a man who wants to change manager and said recently at a fan talk in: "Eddie is an elite professional and it would be remiss of me or any sporting director to be looking over his shoulder, to be on the training pitch or to micromanage somebody that is extremely talented at what he does."

In any case, the final call for such a drastic move would come from PIF HQ in Riyadh and there is no appetite to do so at this moment in time. PIF carefully monitor situations within all their business but making rash calls is not the way they operate.

Howe said in his Press conference that it would be close to impossible to sign a proven Premier League goalscorer to replace Alexander Isak if he gets injured. He said then: "It is a difficult one. Because fully fit Premier League strikers who can score goals cost an extortionate amount of money that we don't have. No I don't think so. We have to back the players that we do have."

That doesn't mean to say Newcastle will spend in January, they do have funds but can't go crazy because of the PSR rulebook that is holding them back. Yet they can trade, and any tempting offers for stars such as Kieran Trippier, Callum Wilson or Jamaal Lascelles may well be considered.

Loans are an option too while Newcastle scouts have been closely watching Sheffield United of late, suggesting that somebody is interesting them closer to home. Whatever happens on recruitment, Newcastle chiefs would only look at changing manager if there is a serious drop in performances.

Newcastle would have to be way off the pace in their quest for a European place and out of both domestic cups. Right now, they are still in with a shout of everything, Europe and both trophies.

That's why Howe will face the Press at the club's media centre on Tuesday with an air of steely determination. A big night is needed against Liverpool where the manner of the peformance will be crucial.