Newcastle’s Eddie Howe rebuffs Manchester United speculation

Eddie Howe has said he remains firmly focused on Newcastle amid speculation linking him with the Manchester United job.

Last weekend’s 3-1 defeat at Brentford marked a new low for Ruben Amorim, whose Manchester United side have lost 17 Premier League games and won just nine since his arrival at Old Trafford last November.

After 33 league games, Amorim has a win rate of just 27.7% – only fractionally superior to Graham Potter’s, which stood at 26.1% when he was sacked by West Ham last weekend.

With pressure mounting on the 40-year-old Portuguese before this weekend’s meeting with Sunderland, Howe’s name has been mentioned among a list of possible replacements that includes Oliver Glasner, Gareth Southgate and Zinedine Zidane.

Eddie Howe says he is fully committed to Newcastle United

Howe has made it plain, however, that he remains fully committed to Newcastle. 

“My commitment is that I am all in,” said Howe, whose side face Nottingham Forest on Sunday. “I am 100% here and always have been.

“My family are still here and we are fighting every day to make a success of what we are doing. The season ahead could be a wonderful thing, and that is what I want to focus on.”

Howe’s Forest counterpart Ange Postecoglou would no doubt say the same, but a run of six games without a win since he took up the reins at the City Ground last month has left the Australian under pressure less than a month into the role.

Forest’s latest setback came with Thursday night’s defeat to Danish Superliga side Midtjylland in the Europa League, a competition Postecoglou won last season. The 60-year-old was barracked by home supporters in the latter stages, but Howe said such moments were part and parcel of management and expressed admiration for Postecoglou’s strength of character.

What did Howe say about Nottingham Forest boss Ange Postecoglou?

“No amount of success previously can take you out of that firing line,” said Howe.”We are all subjected to the same forces and dictated to by results. In any moment, good or bad, you have to be yourself, and that is what Ange is.”

The Newcastle boss revealed that the injury sustained by Tino Livramento against Arsenal last weekend is not as bad as initially feared, although the full-back will nonetheless be sidelined for up to eight weeks after injuring knee ligaments. Kieran Trippier will deputise in his absence. 

“He went to see a specialist a couple of days ago as the scan initially looked better than we thought it was,” said Howe. “He has confirmed it is looking like an eight-week injury, which is a blow given our schedule, but it is looking better than what we initially feared.

“Losing Tino is a big blow for us, with his athleticism and quality, but I have spoken many times about the role Kieran plays and the experience and quality he brings to the squad.”