Newcastle United get their bark back thanks to unseen benefit of Eddie Howe return

Jason Tindall is so much more than Newcastle United's 'Mad Dog' on the touchline. The Magpies' assistant head coach may revel in the affectionate nickname bestowed on him by the Geordie faithful, but let no one be fooled into thinking he is anything but a shrewd operator.

He is the perfect foil for Eddie Howe's more reserved demeanour on matchdays as the pair dovetail in the technical area, but that does not mean he's just the loud mouthpiece - far from it. We've seen over the past fortnight how he was able to seemlessly step into the head coach's shoes during his spell away from the club as Howe recovered from pneumonia.

The victories over Manchester United and Crystal Palace were impressive for the way they were achieved without Howe's input, while the defeat at Aston Villa had little to do with who was in the dugout. With hindsight, circumstances leading up to the chastening Villa Park display have given a somewhat inevitable verdict on the performance.

Tindall and Howe's relationship has been built over the past 16 years, starting at Bournemouth, and is a major reason for why Newcastle have emerged from relegation battlers to Champions League contenders under their new owners.

Yet for all Tindall's input goes way beyond the 'in your face' aggression of matchdays, Newcastle have missed their 'Mad Dog' in recent weeks. JT has had to strike a more composed figure on the touchline as he manned the ship in Howe's absence, but now the United head coach is back, he can let his No 2 off the leash once more.

It's an important part of Newcastle's matchday make up, and a key reason why such high standards are maintained throughout the season. With five huge games to come in the final weeks of the Premier League season, United cannot afford to take their eye off the ball - starting against Ipswich on Saturday.

Having Howe back on the touchline will be a massive boost to the United squad as they look to get over the line in terms of Champions League qualification. But don't underestimate the benefits of having Tindall back in his more accustomed role as the 'Mad Dog' barks again.

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