EDDIE HOWE REJECTS ENGLAND LINKS AND PLEDGES LOYALTY TO NEWCASTLE UNITED
Eddie Howe has rejected rumours linking him to the England job, insisting he is devoted to Newcastle’s long-term Premier League goals.
Eddie Howe isn’t backing down from the Newcastle United job, despite all the noise about his future. He’s heard the talk—some fans online think he’s hit the ceiling with this team, and the media keeps pushing the idea that he’s a favourite for the England job if Thomas Tuchel steps aside after the World Cup. But Howe’s staying focused on the job at hand.
CEO David Hopkinson has his back, too. Hopkinson shot down the England rumours and called Howe “devoted” to Newcastle. He’s even set his sights high, saying the club wants to win the Premier League by 2030. When someone brought that up, Howe didn’t bite. “Timelines and estimations are really hard for me as a manager,” he told Chronicle Live. “Honestly, I don’t know what next week brings, never mind four years from now. I just try to make the players better every day. Each transfer window, you hope to strengthen the squad, but beyond that, you see where it takes you. Setting deadlines doesn’t feel right to me.”
Asked about where he sees himself and the club after five years in charge and two years left on his contract, Howe just shrugged. “Who knows? I don’t know how long I’ll be here. I focus on giving my best every day until someone tells me otherwise.”
When reporters pushed him about the England job and whether he’s thinking of stepping down, Howe just shook his head. “That’s news to me. Every day, I give everything for this club, the players, and the staff. I want to inspire the team, help us win, and move the club forward. That’s all that matters—my own future isn’t really the point.”
Howe’s also aware of the fans who aren’t happy with him right now, even if he avoids social media. “Honestly, I’m glad I’m not online if it’s heated. But I think you can see we’re fighting out there. The players give me everything, game after game. Wednesday was tough—we wanted to make the final, and everyone was fired up for it. But conceding early made it hard. Still, credit to the lads for pushing in the second half and trying to get back in it.”
He didn’t sugarcoat the challenge ahead. “Now we go again, no rest. I can promise you, the players are maxed out—physically, mentally. We see how hard they work, and it’s the same for the staff. We all want success. The path isn’t straight; there are bumps, and this season’s been tough in lots of ways. But we’re giving everything we have to get the results we all want.”
EDDIE HOWE CONFIRMS NEWCASTLE LINEUP SHIFTS ARE PART OF A MAJOR FUTURE STRATEGY
Eddie Howe confirms he is picking Newcastle lineups with next season in mind, trialling players like Ramsey and Woltemade early.
Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe isn’t pretending he’s already thinking about next season. People have been saying Kieran Trippier is close to triggering a payment if he plays more games, so that might influence whether he features again before the season ends. But Howe brushed that off and said he’s making his decisions purely for football reasons.
Talking to reporters at the City Ground about why Anthony Gordon was missing, Howe admitted he’s picking his lineup with the future in mind. Later, in his press conference, he went into more detail about focusing on what comes next at St James’ Park.
"We’re definitely looking ahead," Howe said. "You can see it in some of the choices I’m making with the team. I want to get a look at some players and see how they might grow into the squad."
One of those players is Jacob Ramsey, who came off the bench, set up Harvey Barnes with a great pass, and really changed the game. "I thought Jacob Ramsey was brilliant when he came on against Forest. He really made a difference, and so did Harvey. It’s good to see players taking their chances," Howe said.
He added, "We have to be thinking about the future now and what the team’s going to look like next year. That’s our responsibility at this point."
Before the match, Howe surprised a lot of fans by starting Lewis Hall at right-back, Nick Woltemade in midfield, and pushing Joelinton further forward than usual. Again, Howe explained he wants to see what players can do in different positions.
"It wasn’t some huge change from Brighton; we kept the same shape," Howe said. "But for Nick, this was only one of a few times he’s started in that role for us. He played alongside Will, and they haven’t had much time together either.
"There were positives for Nick, but he wasn’t involved as much as we wanted in the first half. We still need to see his best on the ball. In the second half, though, I thought we got better as a team. We attacked more and looked like a real threat as the match wore on."
MAGPIES EYE £1M BARGAIN TIAGO GABRIEL TO SOLVE GROWING DEFENSIVE INJURY CRISIS
Newcastle are leading the race against Juventus for Tiago Gabriel, the 21-year-old Serie A defensive sensation.
Newcastle United appear to be keeping an eye on Lecce’s young defender Tiago Gabriel as they consider potential options for the summer transfer window.
With Fabian Schar’s contract due to expire at the end of June, the Magpies are preparing for the possibility of his departure. Although an extension is still on the table, Schar has been sidelined since early January because of an ankle injury and doesn't seem close to making a comeback.
At 21, Gabriel has featured 36 times across all competitions this season for Lecce, who are currently four points clear of the Serie A relegation zone. Newcastle’s recruitment team is among those following his development, seemingly interested in exploring a move once the transfer window opens.
Back in December, reports surfaced that both West Ham and Juventus were also tracking Gabriel’s progress. The young defender, who came through Sporting CP’s academy, has had a strong season and will enter the final year of his contract this summer.
Gabriel transferred to Lecce last January for slightly over £1 million, moving from Portuguese club Estrela Amadora. Should he leave this summer, a significantly higher fee might be expected, reflecting his rise in form.
Before joining Estrela Amadora, Gabriel had been part of Setúbal's academy after leaving Sporting in 2020. His performances have earned him regular appearances for Portugal’s Under-21 side, and senior international opportunities may not be far off.
A switch to the Premier League could potentially boost his profile substantially, but he will likely weigh his options with some care.
According to O Jogo, Newcastle continue to monitor his situation keenly as interest around the defender grows.
Regarding Fabian Schar’s future, things remain uncertain even with just weeks left on his current deal. While Kieran Trippier has been publicly confirmed to be leaving upon contract expiration, no similar announcement has come for Schar.
Last week, Howe commented on the defender’s status, noting that no definitive decision has been made yet. He emphasised Schar’s value to the team, pointing out his unique role as a ball-playing defender and his versatility in various defensive setups.
Schar’s influence on the pitch and experience are clearly appreciated, and the club hopes he can regain full fitness before the season concludes. As for any new contract talks, Howe suggested it’s a matter of waiting to see how things unfold.
