Eddie Howe believes January will be a "season-defining" month for Newcastle United, who kickstart a busy few weeks with Sunday's Premier League clash with Crystal Palace.
Newcastle will play nine games before the start of February; five Premier League matches, an FA Cup third-round tie against Bournemouth, the first leg of an EFL Cup semi-final tie against Manchester City, and two Champions League games.
The Magpies have endured a disappointing Premier League campaign to date, sitting 13th in the table, though they are still just four points adrift of the top five.
Howe knows the coming weeks will test his squad, but if Newcastle are to make a run for European qualification, he feels they must start to build some positive momentum soon.
"This is going to be a season-defining month for us, with very minimal rest between games," Howe said.
"You look at the month as a whole and it has some great games for us – some really mouthwatering occasions – but we've got some tough challenges ahead and the start of the month has to be a fruitful one."
Newcastle won 3-1 at Burnley on Tuesday, ending a run of four Premier League matches without a victory, which included a Tyne-Wear derby defeat to Sunderland and a demoralising Boxing Day reverse at Manchester United.
"We're in there fighting and scrapping for every point that we can in the Premier League. Howe said.
"It's not been plain sailing, but the points gap is minimal so if we can put a run together then things can change quickly. We haven't been able to do it yet, but this is the moment."
Back at SJP for the first time in 2026! pic.twitter.com/AwrsmLyf3J
— Newcastle United (@NUFC) January 2, 2026
Palace are one point ahead of Newcastle going into matchday 20, and though they have failed to win any of their last four league games, Oliver Glasner is delighted with the way his thin squad coped across the festive period.
"I think I didn't learn anything – it's just confirmation of what they have shown from day one, it is just an amazing group of players," Glasner said.
"They're always sticking together and giving their best. And even when we don't perform on our top level, we always try to win, try to get the points, like it was in all the games."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Newcastle United – Yoane Wissa
Wissa scored on his first Premier League start for Newcastle in their midweek victory over Burnley.
And dating back to his time with Brentford, Wissa has contributed to eight goals in his last eight Premier League starts (six goals, two assists).
Crystal Palace – Eddie Nketiah
Nketiah has scored just once in his last 40 away appearances in the Premier League, netting at Fulham last month.
Furthermore, Nketiah has not scored north of London in the Premier League since his first-ever goal in the competition in May 2019, for Arsenal away at Burnley.