Two key Newcastle United players remain silent as trouble brews behind the scenes

There is unrest behind the scenes at Newcastle United.

Manager Eddie Howe and technical director Paul Mitchell are reportedly at odds with each other and the relationship between the two is in danger of breaking down completely.

Mitchell replaced Dan Ashworth earlier this summer but despite arriving in the North East as one of the most highly regarded leaders in football, the 43-year-old has endured a tough first ten weeks in charge.

In a quiet transfer window, the Magpies made just five first-team signings, including making Lewis Hall’s loan deal permanent and two free transfers, with Lloyd Kelly joining from Bournemouth and experienced goalkeeper John Ruddy arriving from League One club Birmingham City.

Paul Mitchell and Eddie Howe at war

The Geordies wanted to consider Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi as their top signing, but despite multiple bids, the largest of which was £70million, they failed to sign the England international.

“There are certainly things we got wrong in our strategy,” Mitchell recently told the NY Times.

“If we could have signed a player who we actively felt would make a really good squad better, would we have done that? Of course we would have.”

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Tensions between the manager and the technical director reached boiling point and according to Craig Hope of the Daily Mail, the two have not spoken for days, either by phone or in person.

Howe remains a leading candidate to replace Gareth Southgate as England’s permanent head coach, a possibility Mitchell has not ruled out.