Newcastle United have resumed their Premier League campaign after the World Cup break in style with a 3-0 success over Leicester City.
The hosts at the King Power Stadium found themselves three goals down within 32 minutes and were the latest victims of Eddie Howe's exciting Newcastle side.
The Magpies were quick out of the blocks in the East Midlands and were awarded a penalty within three minutes after Daniel Amartey clumsily brought down Joelinton in the box, with Callum Wilson's deputy Chris Wood firing home from 12 yards to put the visitors ahead.
Just four minutes later Newcastle had doubled their advantage, with Miguel Almiron playing a neat one-two with Bruno Guimaraes before finishing convincingly past Leicester goalkeeper Danny Ward.
Despite Newcastle's dominance in the match, The Foxes did have chances to get back into the game, with a delightful through-ball from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall being latched onto by Patson Daka - although unfortunately for the hosts the 24-year-old's subsequent strike was not enough to beat Nick Pope.
Howe's men had soon put the game to bed after just 32 minutes when Joelinton wrestled above Boubakary Soumare in the box and headed in Kieran Trippier's inviting delivery from a corner kick, handing the Englishman his fourth assist of the Premier League season.
The second half saw more of the possession for Leicester but they were clearly missing the creative presence of James Maddison who has been struggling with a knee injury since last month, with the Foxes managing just two shots on target in the entire match.
Newcastle move up to second place in the Premier League standings with that emphatic win and are now just four points from league-leaders Arsenal - albeit the Gunners have played two fewer games.
Brendan Rodgers's Leicester looked as frail defensively as at the start of the season when they were languishing at the foot of the table - the loss today means they remain 13th and are now four points from the relegation zone.
Leeds United are Newcastle's next opponents on New Year's Eve, whereas Leicester face a daunting trip to Anfield on Friday night to face Liverpool.
Carter White
