'A healthy pressure' - Howe striving for Saints success

The Magpies make the 632-mile round-trip to the South coast to take on Ralph Hassenhüttl's Saints, unbeaten on home soil since September, at St. Mary's Stadium (kick-off 7.30pm GMT).

Howe admitted there were no fresh injuries following United's 2-1 victory against Brighton & Hove Albion with the Amersham-born coach welcoming Matt Ritchie back to the squad as well as revealing the fitness levels of Allan Saint-Maximin.

"We had a few niggles as I said after the Brighton game," Howe said. "We've had Matt Ritchie return to training which is a really good thing but no major (injury) problems.

He's (Allan Saint-Maximin) not 100% fit. He did one day's training. I think it was his first day's training in three weeks before the previous game so we're very keen to obviously have him back at his best.

"I think when he came on in, he did well and I thought he actually, at a key moment in the game, gave us a bit of a lift but we're trying to build up his fitness so he's nearly there."

Following Newcastle's narrow victory over Brighton - their first win over Albion in the English top-flight - the Magpies extended their gap from the relegation zone to seven points.

Howe has been heavily impressed with his side's winning form in recent weeks along with their ability to grind out important results in their bid for Premier League survival. 

"I think there's a healthy pressure on us," the 44-year-old added. "From everybody connected with the team, we want the points and quick. I think that's been the real feature of our recent games is that the lads haven't dropped their focus on the back of good results.

"If anything, the focus has become more intense so that's really pleased me. We know, when you're in the Premier League, every fixture is difficult and we know we've got a difficult end to the season. Every game takes priority before that.

"You have to have the ability to adapt and to win in different ways. I think the winning ugly side of things I don't think necessarily has been something we've done very well historically.

"It's great to see us adding layers to our game and I think we've been a difficult team to play against in recent weeks.

"I think it's been a feature of that and I want to maintain and enhance that while adding maybe a bit more control as I said that we didn't have against Brighton. I think there's there's always things we're looking at to improve but I think you have to acknowledge the good and the good has been a very, very good team mentality for now."

Ahead of four consecutive away trips, three of which to be completed in the space of eight days, Howe hinted changes could be made to the squad ahead of a hectic schedule on the road.

After making his third successive unchanged starting XI against Brighton, the former AFC Bournemouth and Portsmouth defender highlighted the significance of the roles his squad players will play in the latter stages of the league campaign.

He said: "I think it's difficult to to give you clarity at this moment in time for obvious reasons, but, possibly, I think we will look to try and make the right decisions for the team.

"In our position now, I think with the run that we've been on, I've been reluctant to change things dramatically because the team has lacked rhythm for a long, long time. So when you get rhythm, I think you want to try and enhance that not disrupt it.

"It doesn't mean I don't believe in the players I'm not using. I believe that they can all play a huge role in in the future, but I've just got to deal with the here and now."

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