Eddie Howe facing tough calls in 2023 as seven fringe men edge closer to the inevitable?

The past 12 months have been an absolute whirlwind on Tyneside, seeing us go from relegation candidates to surging into the top four following a 2-1 win at Tottenham.

It's been a joy to watch, however, progress on the pitch leads to some tough decisions off the pitch, leaving us with some big - and potentially brutal - decisions to make in 2023.

With the quality of our squad improving as each transfer window passes by, it's inevitable that certain squad players are moved on.

Here, we look at seven fringe men who could well depart over the coming year.

1. Matt Ritchie

A superb servant and clearly someone Howe values highly off the pitch, but he's played just one minute of Premier League football all season. At 33, it could be the perfect time for us to thank him for his efforts and free up a much needed place in our 25-man squad, especially if he's still keen to move closer to family on the south coast.

2. Jamaal Lascelles

He remains the club captain and another big voice in the dressing room, yet has started just one league game all season and is now our fourth choice centre-back, behind Botman, Burn and Schar. It's a tough call for all parties, as he seems settled on Tyneside and appreciated by Howe. However, he'll want game time at this stage of his career and we may be wise to cash now he's approaching the final 18 months of his contract.

3. Javier Manquillo

Not only has Emil Krafth leapfrogged him in the pecking order, the right-back has struggled with injuries over the past year, meaning his last appearance was in that 5-1 hammering at Spurs back in April. He too is out of contract in 18 months, so now could be the time to sell.

4. Paul Dummett

Like Ritchie, he's a player Howe has spoken highly of when it comes to his influence off the pitch. However, he's not played a minute of Premier League football since February and struggles to stay fit, with him sidelined once again with another knock.

5. Jacob Murphy

He's played his part in recent weeks, starting four of our last five games and scoring in that 5-1 win over Brentford, but he doesn't have the quality required for a team chasing European football. If we sign another winger in January and can keep Allan Saint-Maximin fit, he'll struggle for game time at time in his career where he'll want to be playing. Fuksiarz believe a Championship move could be on the cards, with former club Norwich a potential destination.

6. Jamal Lewis

Perhaps he needs a loan before we look to move him on for good, but it seems pretty damning that he's behind both Matt Targett and Dan Burn in the left-back pecking order, seeing him play just seven minutes of Premier League football all season.

7. Chris Wood

The Kiwi feels like our Daryl Murphy of the Championship. He'll give his all when called upon and seems a great character, but it feels like we've reached the point where he needs to be replaced with a younger alternative who fits our high-intensity approach.