EDDIE HOWE has told his Newcastle United players they will have to match Burnley’s commitment and energy levels when they line up at Turf Moor this afternoon.

Burnley are fighting for their Premier League lives with three more games to play, with Vincent Kompany’s side having lost just one of their last eight matches to give themselves a realistic chance of survival.

Newcastle have their own ambitions in the final month of the campaign, with their current position in seventh likely to be good enough to secure European football next season. However, with Chelsea having seen off Tottenham on Thursday night, the Magpies’ cushion to eighth place has been cut to just two points.

The Magpies have plenty to play for, but their most recent away game resulted in a limp 2-0 defeat at Crystal Palace, and first and foremost this afternoon, the visitors will have to fight for the right to play their football against the Clarets.

“I will be very clear to our players that our energy and motivation has to match theirs,” said Howe. “Our body language on the pitch has to be absolutely right and where it needs to be. This is a huge game for us, and we are under no illusions about that.”

Newcastle’s away form has been a cause for concern for much of the season. Howe’s side have won just four of their 16 away games in the league, a tally that is equalled by Brighton, Crystal Palace and Brentford, and bettered by Everton.

READ MORE:

“I think there are probably five or six things that have contributed to that (the away form),” said Howe. “Those five or six things we're aware of, and I think through a combination of coaching, of player availability, of various other things, hopefully we can make improvements. Not just for this season but for next year.

“I don’t believe we’ve got players who can only thrive with home support though. I see why you might ask that question, and only we can answer that. We have to perform.

“The big thing is that we play the same away from home as we do at home. We need to see the same Newcastle team, the same style of play, the same energy levels and the same desire to win. We possibly haven't seen that this season, so we have to answer that in the remaining games and into next season for sure.”

Newcastle (probable, 4-3-3): Dubravka; Livramento, Krafth, Burn, Hall; Longstaff, Guimaraes, Anderson; Murphy, Isak, Gordon.