The English tactician took charge of the team in November when they were at the second bottom and now they are placed 11th in the Premier League standings.
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Newcastle United defender Dan Burn feels Eddie Howe deserves to win the Manager of the year award for guiding the relegation-threatened Magpies to the mid-table. The English tactician took charge of the team in November when they were at the second bottom with just five points. But the Magpies are now placed 11th in the standings, closer to the European places than the relegation zone.
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? “The challenge never stops. We have to keep going and being very professional and try to win more games. We know we can’t drop our levels for a second.”
Relentless. ?
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) April 21, 2022
Howe’s side defeated Crystal Palace 1-0 at St- James’ Park on Wednesday to move 15 points clear of the drop zone. It was Newcastle’s third consecutive victory and ninth in their last 14 league games.
“I agree with those who say he is a real contender when you see what he has done,” said Burn.
The central defender Burn was one of the five January signings after the club’s takeover by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF). Other than Burn, Keiran Trippier joined from Atletico Madrid, followed by Burnley striker Chris wood and Lyon midfielder Bruno Gimaraes, as well as the left-back Matt Targett on loan.
Howe has done superbly well to tweak Newcastle’s system rather than rip everything up and start again, which might have been a temptation. He has ensured that the Magpies are hard to break and at the same time made sure that the quality up front is able to get the ball inside the net.
“When you come in and turn it around the way he has, just the mentality, the way we train, the sense of real togetherness he has brought, it has brought the fans and the players closer together. We are all pulling in the same direction.
“Obviously, you have the likes of Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola, but I think what he has done is equally impressive. It is a different job he has done but a huge achievement from the state the club was in. To get to 40 points with five games to go is monumental.”
The 1.98m tall centre-back quickly established himself as a vital cog in the Newcastle side. His physical prowess helps the team a lot during set piece situations at both the ends. Meanwhile the former Brighton-man is enjoying his new stint at St. james’ Park.
“The atmosphere reminds me of when I used to come here as a kid and watch the Champions League,’ he said. ‘The atmosphere and positivity now feels like that. That big roar before kick-off. It’s just the hope. Everyone is buzzing to see what the future will bring. That is why we had to stay up.”
Newcastle are now level on points with 10th-placed Brighton and with five more games to go, they are well on course to achieve a top-ten finish, which would be a remarkable achievement, considering the disastrous start to the season they had.
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