... former Swansea City manager and Barcelona Legend, Michael Laudrup, is now one of the favourites to fill the vacant managerial position at newcastle United, having after his odds were significantly slashed by a number of reputable betting outlets.
The the trio of Remi Garde, Steve McCalren and John Carver are still cemented in place at the top of the market, there has been mention of a mystery fourth candidate having been interviewed by the club.
Laudrup is currently manager of Qatar Stars League champions Lekhwiya, with whom he has been in charge of since June.
However, if the betting is to be believed the 50-year-old could be on the verge of returning to the Premier League a year after leaving Swansea City.
NEWCASTLE UTD 1 SOUTHAMPTON 2
NEWCASTLE
1. Tim Krul
22. Daryl Janmaat
2. Fabricio Coloccini
36. Paul Dummett 80'
19. Massadio Haidara
8. Vurnon Anita 68'
14. Jack Colback
20. Remy Cabella
7. Moussa Sissoko
11. Yoan Gouffran 68'
17. Ayoze Perez
Subs
3. Davide Santon
6. Mike Williamson 80'
28. Sammy Ameobi 68'
29. Emmanuel Riviere 68'
30. Mehdi Abeid
32. Adam Armstrong
41. Freddie Woodman
SOUTHAMPTON
23. Fraser Forster
2. Nathaniel Clyne
6. Jose Fonte
5. Florin Gardos
21. Ryan Bertrand
8. Steven Davis
28. Harrison Reed
16. James Ward-Prowse 60'
11. Dusan Tadic 60'
22. Eljero Elia 82'
19. Graziano Pelle
Subs
1. Kelvin Davis
7. Shane Long 60'
18. Jack Cork 60'
27. Lloyd Isgrove
32. Jason McCarthy
33. Matt Targett 82'
42. Jake Hesketh
Eljero Elia scored twice to fire Southampton back into third place in the Barclays Premier League with a hard-fought 2-1 victory at Newcastle.
The Dutchman, on loan from Werder Bremen, scored his first goal for the club with 14 minutes gone and then after Yoan Gouffran had cancelled out his strike with a fortuitous 29th-minute equaliser, restored the visitors' lead 17 minutes into the second half.
Both goals came against the run of play as Newcastle, who have now played four games under caretaker manager John Carver and won none of them, dominated possession for long periods. However, they lacked the cutting edge.
However, the hosts were aggrieved not to be awarded an injury-time penalty when substitute Emmanuel Riviere's shot appeared to hit Jose Fonte's arm - but referee Robert Madley waved away their appeals.
That will matter little to the Saints, who maintained their push for an unlikely top-four finish in front of a crowd of 49,307 at St James' Park.
By contrast, Carver and his players will head off on a mid-season training break in Dubai with the search for a new head coach ongoing and their season threatening to unravel.
Vurnon Anita sliced a second-minute shot wide after good build-up play by Moussa Sissoko and Remy Cabella, before full-back Daryl Janmaat saw his well-struck effort blocked after playing a neat one-two with Cabella.
Ayoze Perez and Gouffran then tested goalkeeper Fraser Forster from distance, before Southampton opened the scoring.
The impressive Graziano Pelle headed down Fonte's long ball for James Ward-Prowse to slide in Elia, whose well-struck 14th-minute shot embarrassed keeper Tim Krul.
With Pelle proving a handful for central defenders Fabricio Coloccini and Paul Dummett, the visitors gained a measure of control as the home side attempted to regroup, and Fonte headed Ward-Prowse's 25th-minute free-kick over.
But Newcastle were level within four minutes with the help of a large slice of good fortune.
Defender Florin Gardos looked to have Cabella's through-ball covered, but his attempted clearance cannoned off the chasing Gouffran's shin and looped past Forster and into the unguarded net, the Frenchman's first goal since Boxing Day 2013.
Forster was relieved not to be beaten for a second time three minutes before the break when he could only look on as Perez's cushioned volley from Cabella's swinging cross dropped just wide.
Carver tweaked his team at the break with Sissoko moved into a central position for the second half, and after an opening period during which Southampton dominated, the Magpies gradually rediscovered their rhythm.
Cabella sliced over from Sissoko's 53rd-minute knock-down, but the Saints responded with Pelle once again the focal point.
Ronald Koeman sent on Jack Cork and Shane Long for Ward-Prowse and Dusan Tadic on the hour, but his side might have been behind within seconds when Gouffran met Massadio Haidara's cross with a glancing header, but steered his effort wide of the far post.
However, Southampton regained their lead within seconds when Long flicked on a clearance and Elia slipped through the heart of the home defence to fire home off Janmaat's shins.
Carver responded by sending on Riviere and Sammy Ameobi for Anita and Gouffran, and the traffic was largely one-way with Dummett passing up a glorious opportunity to level 15 minutes from time when he met Jack Colback's corner unopposed, but headed harmlessly wide.
Pelle was significantly more accurate two minutes later when he powered a header from full-back Nathaniel Clyne's cross against Krul's bar, but as time ran down, the home side committed men to the search for a second equaliser which might have come had Madley ruled that Fonte had handled Riviere's effort.
But ultimately, their efforts proved to be in vain as the Saints held out with little difficulty to extend their recent run to 16 points from a possible 18.
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HULL CITY v NEWCASTLE UTD
Saturday Jan 31st 12.45 ko
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Newcastle Utd Fixtures ...
2014/15 SEASON
Sunday August 17
NEWCASTLE 0 MAN CITY 2
Krul, Janmaat, Williamson, Coloccini, Dummett, Colback, Anita (63' Obertan), Cabella, Sissoko, Gouffran (74' Aarons), Riviere (83' Perez).
Subs: Haidara, Elliot, S Taylor, Abeid
Saturday August 23
ASTON VILLA 0 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Janmaat, Williamson, Coloccini, Dummett, Anita (70' de Jong), Colback, Cabella, Sissoko, Gouffran, Riviere (77' Perez - 90+2' S Taylor).
Subs: Haidara, Elliot, Obertan, Abeid
Tuesday August 26
LC GILLINGHAM 0 NEWCASTLE 1 (Egan OG)
Krul, Janmaat, Coloccini, S Taylor, Haidara, Sissoko, Abeid, Obertan, de Jong (68' Perez), Aarons (60' Cabella), Riviere (86' Gouffran)
Subs: Anita, Ferreyra, Elliot, Dummett
Saturday August 30
NEWCASTLE 3 CRYSTAL PALACE 3 (Janmaat, Aarons, Williamson)
Krul, Janmaat (79' Perez), Williamson, Coloccini, Haidara, Sissoko, Colback, Cabella, de Jong (79' Anita), Gouffran (67' Aarons), Riviere
Subs: Elliot, Obertan, S Taylor, Dummett
Saturday September 13
SOUTHAMPTON 4 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Janmaat, Williamson, Coloccini, Haidara, Anita (45' Tiote), Colback, Cabella (69' Perez), Sissoko (90'Ameobi), Gouffran, Riviere
Subs: Elliot, Obertan, S Taylor, Armstrong
Saturday September 20
NEWCASTLE 2 HULL CITY (Cisse 2)
Krul, Janmaat, Williamson, Coloccini, Dummett, Tiote (85' Ameobi), Colback, Sissoko, Cabella, Gouffran (90+4' Perez), Riviere (69' Cisse)
Subs: Anita, Haidara, Elliot, S Taylor
Wednesday September 24
LC CRYSTAL PALACE 2 NEWCASTLE 3 AET (Riviere 2, Dummett)
Elliot, Janmaat (46 Haidara), Coloccini, S Taylor, Dummett, Colback, Abeid, Obertan, Armstrong, Ameobi (66 Sissoko), Riviere (80 Perez)
Subs: Anita, Ferreyra, Cabella, Alnwick
Monday September 29
STOKE CITY 1 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Janmaat, Williamson, Coloccini, Dummett, Tiote, Colback, Sissoko, Cabella (74' Ameobi), Gouffran (68' Obertan), Riviere (45' Cisse)
Subs: Anita, Elliot, S Taylor, Armstrong
Saturday October 4
SWANSEA CITY 2 NEWCASTLE 2 (Cisse 2)
Krul, Janmaat, Williamson, Coloccini, Dummett, Obertan, Tiote, Sissoko, Colback (69' Riviere), Gouffran (58' Ameobi), Cisse (85' Perez).
Subs: Anita, Haidara, Cabella, Elliot
Saturday October 18
NEWCASTLE 1 LEICESTER CITY 0 (Obertan)
Krul, Janmaat, S Taylor, Coloccini, Dummett (72' Haidara), Tiote, Anita (59' Perez), Colback, Obertan, Sissoko, Gouffran (90+2' Cabella), Cisse
Subs: Elliot, Abeid, Armstrong
Saturday October 26
TOTTENHAM 1 NEWCASTLE 2 (Ameobi, Perez)
Krul, Janmaat, S Taylor, Coloccini, Dummett, Anita (45' Cabella), Colback, Obertan (45' Ameobi), Sissoko, Gouffran, Perez (79' Haidara)
Subs: R Taylor, Ferreyra, Elliot, Armstrong
Wednesday October 29
LC MAN CITY 0 NEWCASTLE 2 (Aarons, Sissoko)
Elliot, Janmaat (64' Sissoko), Coloccini, Dummett, Haidara, Colback, R Taylor, Abeid, Obertan, Armstrong (65' Riviere), Aarons (46' Ameobi)
Subs: Krul, Gouffran, Perez, Cabella
Saturday November 1
NEWCASTLE 1 LIVERPOOL 0 (Perez)
Elliot, Krul, Janmaat, S Taylor, Coloccini, Dummett, Abeid, Colback, Obertan (27' Aarons), Sissoko), Ameobi (66' Cabella), Cisse (45' Perez)
Subs: R Taylor, Gouffran, Haidara, Elliot
Sunday November 9
WEST BROM 0 NEWCASTLE 2 (Perez, Coloccini)
Krul, Janmaat, Coloccini (78' Williamson), Dummett, Haidara, Abeid, Colback, Cabella (82' R Taylor), Sissoko, Ameobi (78' Gouffran), Perez
Subs: Anita, Cisse, Elliot, Armstrong
Saturday November 22
NEWCASTLE 1 QPR 0 (sissoko)
Krul, Janmaat, Williamson, Dummett, Haidara, R Taylor (34' Gouffran), Colback, Cabella (68' Cisse), Sissoko, Ameobi, Perez (89' Armstrong)
Subs: Anita, Ferreyra, Elliot, Streete
Saturday November 29
WEST HAM 1 NEWCASTLE 0
Elliot, Janmaat (74' S Taylor), Williamson, Dummett, Haidara, Tiote (63' Cabella), Colback, Gouffran (63' Cisse), Sissoko, Ameobi, Perez
Subs: Anita, Riviere, Alnwick, Armstrong
Tuesday December 2
BURNLEY 1 NEWCASTLE 1 (Cisse)
Elliot, Janmaat, Williamson (45' S Taylor), Dummett, Haidara, Abeid, Tiote, Gouffran, Perez (45' Cabella), Ameobi (75' Riviere), Cisse
Subs: Anita, Alnwick, Armstrong, Streete
Saturday December 6
NEWCASTLE 2 CHELSEA 1 (Cisse 2)
Elliot (45' Alnwick), Janmaat, S Taylor, Coloccini, Dummett, Tiote, Colback, Cabella (53' Cisse), Sissoko, Ameobi (83' Williamson), Perez
Subs: Anita, Gouffran, Haidara, Riviere
Saturday December 13
ARSENAL 4 NEWCASTLE 1 (Perez)
Alnwick, Janmaat, Williamson, Coloccini, Dummett, Tiote, Colback, Perez (82' Armstrong), Ameobi (56' Cabella), Gouffran, Cisse (56' Riviere)
Subs: Anita, Haidara, Vuckic, Woodman
Wednesday December 17
LC TOTTENHAM 4 NEWCASTLE 0
Alnwick, Coloccini, Williamson, Haidara, Dummett, Colback, Cabella (80' Vuckic), Gouffran, Perez, Sissoko (73' Anita), Riviere (60' Armstrong)
Subs: Streete, Satka, Woodman, Roberts
Sunday December 21
NEWCASTLE 0 SUNDERLAND 1
Alnwick, Janmaat, S Taylor, Coloccini, Dummett, Tiote (75' Cisse), Colback, Gouffran (59' Armstrong), Sissoko, Ameobi (89' Cabella), Perez
Subs: Williamson, Haidara, Riviere, Woodman
Friday December 26
MANCHESTER UNITED 3 NEWCASTLE 1 (Cisse pen)
Alnwick, Janmaat, S Taylor, Coloccini, Dummett (63' Cabella), Anita, Colback, Gouffran, Sissoko, Armstrong (63' Cisse), Perez (82' Vuckic)
Subs: Williamson, Riviere, Satka, Woodman
Sunday December 28
NEWCASTLE 3 EVERTON 2 (Cisse, Perez, Colback)
Alnwick, Janmaat, Williamson, Coloccini, Dummett, Tiote, Colback, Sissoko, Perez, Gouffran (90+1' Cabella), Cisse (73' Riviere)
Subs: Santon, Anita, S Taylor, Armstrong, Woodman
Thursday January 1 2015
NEWCASTLE 3 BURNLEY 3 (S Taylor, Sissoko, Colback)
Alnwick, Janmaat, Coloccini, S Taylor (Williamson 61), Dummett, Sissoko, Colback Tiote, Gouffran (Haidara 71), Perez, Riviere (Armstrong 57)
Subs: Santon, Anita, Satka, Woodman
Saturday January 3 2015
FAC LEICESTER CITY 1 NEWCASTLE 0
Alnwick, Santon, Williamson, Dummett, Haidara, Tiote, Anita, Vuckic (79' Roberts), Armstrong, Riviere, Cabella
Subs: Gouffran, Campbell, Satka, Bigirimana, Woodman, Gilliead
Saturday January 10 2015
CHELSEA 2 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Janmaat, Williamson, Coloccini, Dummett, Anita, Colback, Cabella, Sissoko (84' Riviere), Gouffran (63' Ameobi), Perez
Subs: Santon, Haidara, Vuckic, Satka, Woodman
Saturday January 17 2015
NEWCASTLE 1 SOUTHAMPTON 2 (Gouffran)
Krul, Janmaat, Coloccini, Dummett (80' Williamson), Haidara, Anita (68' Ameobi), Colback, Cabella, Sissoko, Gouffran (68' Riviere), Perez
Subs: Santon, Abeid, Armstrong, Woodman
Saturday January 31 2015
Hull City v Newcastle United
Saturday February 7 2015
Newcastle United v Stoke City
Tuesday February 10 2015
Crystal Palace v Newcastle United
Saturday February 21 2015
Manchester City v Newcastle United
Saturday February 28 2015
Newcastle United v Aston Villa
Wednesday March 4 2015
Newcastle United v Man Utd
Saturday March 14 2015
Everton v Newcastle United
Saturday March 21 2015
Newcastle United v Arsenal
Saturday April 4 2015
Sunderland v Newcastle United
Saturday April 11 2015
Liverpool v Newcastle United
Saturday April 18 2015
Newcastle United v Tottenham
Saturday April 25 2015
Newcastle United v Swansea City
Saturday May 2 2015
Leicester City v Newcastle United
Saturday May 9 2015
Newcastle United v West Brom
Saturday May 16 2015
QPR v Newcastle United
Sunday May 24 2015
Newcastle United v West Ham United