Eddie Howe has challenged his fringe players to "impress" him in training this week as he looks to create a realistic pathway back into his Newcastle United side.
The likes of Paul Dummett, Jamal Lewis and Javier Manquillo have not start Premier League games this term while even the skipper Jamaal Lascelles and experienced head Matt Ritchie can't get near the starting line-up. But Howe said the door remains very much open for anybody to get past some of Newcastle's big money signings.
Howe handed Dummett a new deal this year while Manquillo was also kept on and Lewis fought his way back into the squad after not being handed a squad number in January.
READ MORE: Newcastle insider reveals transfer committee and expects 'knock on the door' from agents
When asked how they can find their way back into the team, Howe told Chronicle Live: "Train well - show everything in training. If you don't have a game to show me what they are capable of, the reality is they have a window every day with me to show me how good they are. I will always try to pick what I believe is the best team to win a game.
"So the onus is very much on them to fight in a good way. To prove that they are better than the player playing in their position.
"The players you discussed (Dummett, Manquillo and Lewis) have all got different stories to get to this position and this point. But they are players that I like and they are capable of playing well in our team."
United have a packed schedule coming up between now and the World Cup break with eight games in league and cup before the final hurrah before the tournament against Chelsea on November 12. Howe knows that they will all be involved at some stage.
Howe said: "It is a long season there are a lot of games and they will be needed. And they are very valued by me."
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