Robbie Savage is 'not convinced' Eddie Howe will be able to salvage Newcastle United's season and guide the Magpies to Premier League survival.
United are yet to pick up a win so far this season, and already sit five points adrift of safety with a difficult December schedule to come.
Howe's reign in the St James' Park dugout begins with the visit of Brentford on Saturday night, with home fixtures against Norwich City and Burnley to come.
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The former Bournemouth boss has repeatedly stressed he is under no illusion over the scale of the task facing the Magpies.
Howe's appointment came after a lengthy recruitment process as the club's new owners took their time to find Steve Bruce's successor.
The 43-year-old kept the Cherries in the top-flight for five years, but Savage believes the pressure and scrutiny in the head coach's previous role does not compare to the job he now faces on Tyneside.
The pundit fears the situation may simply prove irretrievable for Howe, suggesting the damage could well be done before the January transfer window opens.
He wrote in his Mirror column: "Eddie Howe is about to find out that keeping 52,000 Newcastle fans happy every week is a very different kettle of fish from Bournemouth.
"And I am not convinced that he will be able to save them from relegation.
"Howe takes charge of his first game at St James' Park with just five points from 11 games on the board. The odds on clubs staying up after such a poor start are rarely favourable.
"Yes, Newcastle are the richest club in the world now, and they can afford to buy anyone they want in January.
"But by the time the New Year transfer window opens, another nine games will have elapsed and we will be into the second half of the season."
Savage also questioned Howe's defensive record at Bournemouth, and cites the signings of the likes of Jordon Ibe and Dominic Solanke as expensive mistakes he can not repeat at Newcastle.
