Souness says Eddie Howe has transformed two Newcastle players this season

Add as preferred source on Google

Graeme Souness has praised the job Eddie Howe has done at Newcastle United this season and has used two players to hammer home his point.

There aren’t many figures as unpopular on Tyneside as Graeme Souness and he often did himself no favours on Sky Sports always looking for a way to cut Newcastle down with his punditry.

It’s a huge shock therefore, that the former Newcastle manager has been lavishing the current gaffer, Eddie Howe with praise.

Souness has backed Howe for Manager of the Season

Speaking on Off The Ball‘s latest video, Souness said that Eddie Howe should be the Premier League‘s Manager of the Season after what he’s done in this campaign.

While Souness wouldn’t go as far as to say that Howe is in the running for best manager in the world. he made his case for why he should beat Pep Guardiola and possibly even Mikel Arteta, saying: “Not the best in the world, but you’re talking the Premier League. Is it a surprise if [Manchester] City win the league? If [Mikel] Arteta were to win it, there would be an argument for him to win the manager of the year but say Arsenal don’t win it and City win it, there’s a real argument for Eddie Howe at Newcastle.”

It’s odd to hear any kind of Newcastle-related praise from Souness, so saying that our manager should be in the running for such a top award must have stuck in his throat a bit as he said it.

Joelinton and Almiron’s turnaround highlights Howe’s talent

To emphasise his point, Souness used the turnaround of Miguel Almiron and Joelinton at Newcastle as a superb way of making his case: “You think of what he’s done to Almiron, Joelinton. You’re thinking, ‘The Premier League is too tough for you. You better find another home.’ He’s turned them into real Premier League players. He’s done very well.”

With Joelinton it wasn’t just a case of turning him into a better player, it was realising his potential, noticing that he was playing out of position and where he’d be best suited. Steve Bruce had a long time to work with Joelinton and he never thought of playing him in a different position.

That’s the sign of a proper manager. Knowing how to get the best out of someone and being willing to take that risk.

Miguel Almiron always had the energy, always put the graft in but his final ball and his finishing left a lot to be desired, then all of a sudden this season, he turns into a goal machine. It’s all Eddie Howe’s management and coaching.

He has to be in the running for Manager of the Season, and I agree with Souness, only if Arteta guides Arsenal to the title should Howe lose out because it’s no great surprise for Manchester City and Pep Guardiola to win the league.