The Magpies, who played in Europe’s premier club competition two seasons ago and finished seventh, are through to the last 16 this time around and sit 13th in the league ahead of Wednesday night’s home clash with Manchester United.

Similarly, Aston Villa qualified for last season’s Champions League but could only manage sixth in the league, suggesting the demands of fighting on four fronts are challenging for clubs outside the traditional big six.

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Asked if it was almost impossible for those sides to do so, head coach Howe said: “I don’t like the word ‘impossible’ regarding what we can achieve because I think that then gives everyone a way out or an excuse, really.

“It’s difficult. When you compare it to two years ago, the schedule two years ago now seemed easy.

“When you look back in hindsight with the extra games in the Champions League, we’ve gone deep into the cup competitions, it’s put a real stretch not only on our resources of players available to us to select, but then the energy levels and the peak physical condition for every game that the players...