The Newcastle United head coach reflected on 17 defeats in the Premier League and looked forward to next season
Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe(Image: Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire)
Eddie Howe has vowed to fight on at Newcastle United – despite the Magpies slipping to their lowest ever finish under his management.
The Toon head coach cut a glum figure after the 2-0 defeat at the hands of Fulham as 12th place in the table was confirmed. Sunderland’s qualifcation for the Europa League will add salt to the wounds for Howe, who finishes below the North-East rivals after two derby defeats this season.
But he told reporters he would not walk away from the challenge and says there is 100% unity behind the scenes.
Howe told Chronicle Live: “My commitment has never wavered from day one to today.”
Howe then added:: “Regardless of who it is, unity running through a football club is important from top to bottom. You need that togetherness and that plan.
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Newcastle now head off for a summer break and return to work on July 13 for pre-season training with Howe admitting there is plenty to work on.
Howe said: “Whenever you have things to work on you have to absorb it. If you deflect and think it’s nothing to do with us, then you never grow or improve.
“Reflection, analysis and learning is all part of the growing at any football club and certainly there is a lot to take in and absorb from this season.”
On a day that went wrong from the warm-up, with Sandro Tonali removed from the team sheet, Howe said he was awaiting fresh details on the Italy midfielder’s injury.
Howe said: “I think it was in the shooting drill. He felt his muscle, I’m not sure at this stage.”
Newcastle’s summer window will now be critical for Howe and his staff with United determined to make a flying start to the trading period. That swings open on June 15 with Newcastle now looking to tie up Anthony Gordon’s future at the club.
A move to Bayern Munich could be sealed in the next few weeks with Gordon not getting on the field again and failing to kick a ball for the club since April.
The 12th place finish is on par with Steve Bruce’s efforts in 2021/22 but the ex-boss did not have any where near the amount of cash to spend as Howe.
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Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.
