Eddie Howe’s future as Newcastle United manager is more delicate than ever.
While Eddie Howe is away in Germany with his Newcastle United squad for pre-season, the FA have him on their list of candidates to replace Gareth Southgate.
The FA have identified Howe as a target for the England job, as they aim to decide who should lead the national team into the 2026 World Cup. That is a tournament that the Three Lions will be one of the favourites for, and the FA need a manager who can guide them to glory.
They may well believe that the 46-year-old is capable of just that, and Geordie Boot Boys have been told that Howe is ‘open’ to the possibility of becoming England manager.
Given the size of the job, that should come as no surprise. But it does not mean he wants to leave Newcastle United, where he is still really just getting started.
PIF’s message to Eddie Howe ahead of 2024/25 season
Howe has done so well at St James’ Park, and this summer feels like a bit of a reset given all of the changes behind the scenes following an underwhelming 2023/24 season.
Last season ended in disappointment for Newcastle. They squandered the chance to play in Europe again, finishing the year in seventh.
Given all of the injuries, it was not the worst season in the world, but so much more is expected from PIF when the 2024/25 campaign kicks off.
That is according to HITC Football insider Graeme Bailey, who has spoke to Geordie Boot Boys about talks between Eddie Howe and the Newcastle United ownership over the summer.
“Eddie Howe has had talks with the Newcastle hierarchy over the summer,” he said.
“He knows he is under pressure. If Newcastle are in the bottom half of the table at Christmas, is he still in the job? That’s the life of a Premier League manager, not just Newcastle.
“My understanding is that PIF have made it known to Howe that last season was not good enough, but they haven’t read out the riot act so to speak.”
Pressure should increase at Newcastle United
That sounds severe, but it is nothing that Howe will not admit himself.
While the injuries and crazy cup draws hindered Newcastle, they were nowhere near as good as the year before. Obviously those two factors are the reason why, but the end result was no European football and no silverware.
Howe will want his side to do much better this season, as will the owners. It is not a case of Howe being put under extreme pressure to succeed – it just a case of the club knowing that it needs to progress.
And that is what Howe will want too. He has a clear desire to take Newcastle to the top, and he has proven that he can hang with the elite when certain factors are not competing against him.
He will hope to return to that form next season, and if that happens then there will be absolutely no talk of Howe being under pressure.
Right now he is under pressure, but it is the right type of pressure – the type of pressure he will thrive under and put upon himself.
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