At the most recent True Faith live event, Telegraph journalist, Luke Edwards revealed that Howe was unaware of the criticism aimed towards Dan Burn. If we are to take Howe at his word – which is probably unwise given his tendency to mislead – this is a pretty astonishing claim and is further evidence of Howe’s laser-like focus. For Howe, there is no background noise, he operates in complete isolation and is totally committed to his approach. But all great managers must find the right balance between relentlessly pursuing their trusted methods and having the humility to recognise the need for change. That time has surely arrived.

Howe’s first 18 months at Newcastle were nothing short of incredible. From relegation candidates to PSG dismantlers, Howe’s high pressing, high intensity Mags were a joy to watch. Crucially also, there was a meanness in midfield and solidity in defence that rivalled any team in Europe. However, when the fixtures started to pile up and injuries not long after, Howe proved himself unwilling to adapt a system that no longer had the right conditions to succeed. This season, therefore, has turned into a chaotic mess – even if punctuated with some remarkable moments.

Since December, Newcastle United fans have become all too familiar with the weaknesses of the current team. Virtually every game has followed the same script. The flat midfield three is left hopelessly vulnerable to an opposition player simply drifting into the number ten position safe in the knowledge he will be able to do so unmarked. A constant barrage of attacks down the left-hand side with Dan Burn repeatedly exposed by *insert pacy winger name here*. And a goalkeeper so afraid to leave his goal line the back four is constantly unsure about whether to drop off or attack the ball. (Those with and without Nick Pope stats are truly astonishing!)

There is seemingly no answer, with the occasional good result enough to mask yet another chaotic performance until the following week where we see the same thing repeated with an unkind scoreline no cause for mitigation. But the big man from Blyth will not be moved, despite over £50m worth of talent sitting on the bench in the form of Lewis Hall who sparkled for Chelsea last season, and Tino Livramento who has been magnificent whenever given the chance. Not to mention Matty Targett.

The explanation from journalists and Howe himself is Burn’s repeated inclusion is down to a combination of his leadership qualities, the freedom it affords Kieran Trippier, his height to defend set pieces and his strong performances last year. It is the latter point that feeds the narrative that Howe is “overly loyal”. We are told constantly Burn’s form last season is reason enough for his ever-presence in this one despite repeated evidence to the contrary.

Clearly, the problems extend far beyond the continued selection of Burn. The injury crisis that has plagued United all season has been virtually unprecedent with Newcastle far out in front on the “days lost from injuries” table.

This, of course, does not include summer signing, Sandro Tonali missing almost the entire season with a ban for illegal betting whilst at AC Milan.

Perhaps then, the system remains viable, it is the exhausted personnel that are problem (as Howe implied himself in a recent press conference). Add in multiple exceptionally unfavourable cup draws and perhaps it is understandable the team seems to be running on fumes with so many key players not performing at their best.

Competing in Europe every season, however, is the stated goal of the club, so while perhaps the scale of the injury crisis may not reoccur to the same extent, Howe will need to be willing to tweak the system when essential cogs are inevitably unavailable across a fixture packed season. Equally, a lack of time on the training pitch, despite repeatedly being bemoaned by the manger is a necessary condition of being a successful team. Far from something to decry, this is the reward for top teams across Europe competing on multiple fronts.

It did seem something had shifted in Howe’s thinking in a dominant, counter-attacking performance against Wolves (3-0), but another dismal showing on the road against Chelsea and a switch to a back five at The Etihad – in a one-off cup game with no change of personnel – suggests the tweak for Wolves was more of an aberration than a signal of meaningful adaptation.

Ultimately, therefore, even Howe’s most ardent supporters (of which I am one) has had to concede the thinking has become muddled, with the team currently a more accurately a reflection of Howe’s Bournemouth side than the physical, well-organised side we became accustomed to over the 18 months previous.

There are now ten games to go, and Howe needs to address these glaring deficiencies. With two weeks off for the international break and a warm weather training camp providing the perfect environment for a refresh, the run-in towards the end of season must mark a significant departure from what has gone before. With various options at Howe’s disposal now, a recurrence of the same haphazard performances delivered by the same players, in the same system will start to appear less like players being rewarded with loyalty and more like dogmatism.

Lewis Miley and Elliot Anderson have both had more than enough time to allow Longstaff the rest he desperately needs. Sven Botman also being ruled out (the less said abut that the better) has added to the injury woes but gives Howe the opportunity to move Burn inside to the LCB position allowing Livramento/Hall a decent run in the team – a great opportunity to give the young full-backs valuable experience for the for the season ahead.

The easier reshuffle is to simply revert to type by bringing Jamaal Lascelles in from the cold, thereby virtually assuring Burn’s continuation for the remainder of the season. Clearly, this would be extremely short-sighted with very minimal upside. Howe simply cannot waste this moment – the season remains eminently salvageable, and he has the tools to do it.

Regardless of where United finish, all the noises suggest Howe will rightly have the chance to remedy things in the upcoming season.

These final ten games stand as the potential turning point for a change in approach, not a further demonstration of a blind commitment to the tried and tested (and now busted).

How the end end of the season transpires can be the difference of catapulting the team into the next season with a confident pitch to prospective signings, and a hope of breaking free from the cycle of unfortunate cup draws and persistent injury crisis.

Alternatively, failure to capitalise on this moment could result in a summer fraught with uncertainty and desperate appeals to players needing to be convinced of United’s ambition.

All the while, placing unhealthy pressure on both manager and team and exacerbating a fretful fan-base!

Howe will rightly ignore the outside noise or be deterred by hiccups or bumps in the road.

But more of the same is simply not an option.

All good managers have rough patches, the great ones quietly muddle through while minimising the enduring impact.

If Howe wants to mix it with the best, to free himself from the lazy Mark Hughes comparisons – employed to imply his role as a transitional manager rather than transformative – these last ten games must signify a marked shift from the destabilising chaos that preceded it.

Ed Clements – @Ed_Clementss