Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has told his biggest names to deliver or risk being dropped as he plots the downfall of Premier League champions Manchester City.

The Magpies head into Saturday’s clash at St James’ Park having largely flattered to deceive so far this season, getting results without playing well until last weekend’s 3-1 defeat at Fulham signalled a dramatic change in fortunes.

While they have not hit the heights which propelled them into last season’s Champions League collectively, it has been noticeable that key men Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton, Anthony Gordon and Alexander Isak – who is a doubt for City’s visit with a broken toe – have struggled to replicate their best form individually.

And Howe has admitted that has left him with decisions to make.

Asked how close he was to knowing his best XI, Howe said: “Given a blank sheet of paper and you say ‘Go on, write down what your best team is’, I don’t think that would be difficult for me.

“The problem is you have to justify your selection, so those players have to be in their best moment and best form. What you can’t do is pick that team if it doesn’t deserve to play. I hope you follow me.

“I’m a big believer in rewarding people that are playing well. I’m a big believer in there’s no set team, everyone has to earn their place. If you’re not earning your place, you can’t play.

“So we’re in that moment, early season, where players haven’t been in their best form. It’s difficult to pick players if they’re not playing continually well.

“I’m at that stage now where I’m going to have to make some difficult decisions, I think.”

Howe’s problems are relative – Newcastle sit sixth in the table, just three points adrift of leaders City after six games – but they were highlighted painfully in at Craven Cottage.

Howe said: “We reviewed it and we didn’t like ourselves, so there’s been some honest conversations this week, and hopefully there’ll be a response.”

Recent fixtures between the Magpies and City on Tyneside have proved tight encounters, with the sides drawing 3-3 in August 2022, Howe’s men edging a Carabao Cup third-round tie 1-0 in September last year before the visitors gained their revenge in the league in January when Oscar Bobb secured a last-gasp 3-2 win.

Newcastle striker Isak scored in the latter two encounters, but could be a frustrated bystander this weekend as he continues his recovery from the fracture with which he played – with the help of a pain-killing injection – at Fulham.

Howe said: “It sounds worse than it is, but he’s got a broken toe, but it’s one that can be managed and played with providing he can tolerate the pain levels, and that will have no long-term risks.

“He had an injection to numb the toe last week and that was fine until the injection wore off. Let’s see how he is today.”