HOWE TO FIX THE TOON

Newcastle boss set to take drastic action to stop the rot

- IAN MURTAGH

It was the most ominous F sentence Eddie Howe has delivered since becoming Newcastle's head coach two years ago.

"All options are open to us at all times," he said in the wake of Boxing Day's 3-1 home defeat against struggling Nottingham Forest.

And Howe will not allow sentiment to come into it when he t decides what needs to be done to revive the flagging Magpies.

The implications are clear. Hower will get tough and do whatever is v necessary to make Newcastle upwardly mobile again.

And that could even result in him F ditching some of those players who have done so much to transform C Toon from relegation strugglers into t Champions League contenders.

So what steps might Howe take in the days and weeks ahead?

CHANGE HIS FULL-BACKS

Kieran Trippier and Dan Burn have come to symbolise the rebirth Of Newcastle United both by their performances on the pitch and influence off it. But Trippier, by his own admission, has been poor lately and Burn was hooked during the Forest game after an uncomfortable afternoon.

Some fans believe it is time for summer buys Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall to be given their chance.