For Newcastle United, the comedown can wait. Eddie Howe’s side jumped to fifth in the Premier League to intensify their push for the Champions League after dismantling a sorry Leicester City, a club with a decision to make.

Newcastle’s business was in effect complete after 34 minutes, courtesy of two goals by Jacob Murphy and one from Harvey Barnes. For Leicester, it is now a record eight home defeats in a row without scoring and 15 losses in their past 16 matches. Such damning statistics do not bode well for Ruud van Nistelrooy.