Newcastle sits 12th in the Premier League and six points adrift of the top five, having signed off for the March international break with a 2-1 defeat to rival Sunderland.

Hopes of UEFA Champions League glory were also dashed by LaLiga leader Barcelona, with Hansi Flick's side emerging 8-3 victors on aggregate in their Round of 16 clash.

Only three sides – Leeds United (eight), Burnley (six), and Tottenham Hotspur (three) – have fewer points over their past nine top-flight matches than the Magpies' nine.

That recent run of form has seen Howe's future at St James' Park questioned, despite him leading the club to their first major domestic trophy since 1955 in the Carabao Cup last year.

Asked about his future ahead of this weekend's Premier League trip to Crystal Palace, head coach Howe replied: "For me, nothing has changed.

"I'm 100 per cent committed to the job. That commitment has never wavered from my side.

"I've been working during the break to come back a stronger team. In this day and age, it's difficult to look too far into the long term.

"I can only look at these seven games and make sure we perform at our very best level and make sure the players are ready for these games."

It is not the first time that Howe has come under pressure during his time at the helm, having also endured tensions with sporting director Paul Mitchell in the past.

Asked what it would take to keep him happy, Howe, who insisted he had not sought assurances over his immediate future after the Sunderland game, said: "The long-term prospects for the football club, I think, are really strong.

"But certainly in these seasons we've experienced previously, we're probably ahead of schedule. Not all the forces are with us.

"We're going to have to act really smart and try to out-perform the budget to hit the levels that everyone wants."