Eddie Howe: Newcastle midfielder Jacob Ramsey has great potential

Ramsey, 24, joined Newcastle from Aston Villa amid scepticism from some fans due to his limited game time at his previous club.

Injuries have further hampered his early progress, and when he did feature, his performances were often inconsistent. His first Premier League start for Newcastle came earlier this month against Burnley at St James' Park, a match in which he struggled to make an impact.

However, Ramsey's recent form has shown notable improvement. Performances against Fulham and Chelsea drew praise from Howe, who believes the midfielder is gradually returning to his best.

Speaking at a press conference ahead of the Manchester United clash, Howe reflected specifically on Ramsey's display against Chelsea, highlighting his growing influence in the team.

Despite the improvement, Howe is clear that Ramsey is not yet a guaranteed starter and expects more from him in the coming weeks.

The manager emphasised the need for Ramsey to contribute more goals and assists, signalling that while progress has been made, the 24-year-old still has key targets to hit.

"That was his best game for us, I felt," he said.

"Athletically, very good. Some of the numbers he produced in that game were elite, in terms of the benchmark for midfielders. So, I think that's a great sign.

"The challenge for JJ since his injury at Leeds, where he twisted his ankle, was a nasty injury.

"He had momentum then, but he had to start all over again. I think he's just returning to his very best levels, you can see technically, he very rarely wastes the ball.

"It's a great quality to have. I think the next step for him is to start impacting the final third with goals and assists, those decisive actions which we know he's capable of."