‘Definitely’: Jack Wilshere makes Eddie Howe prediction after Newcastle appointment

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Jack Wilshere has told talkSPORT that Newcastle United have appointed a ‘great’ manager in Eddie Howe, and believes the Toon could soon challenge the Premier League top-six.

The Magpies hired Howe as their latest head coach on Monday to replace Steve Bruce on a two-and-a-half-year contract.

He adopts a Newcastle side 19th in the table and only above basement boys Norwich City on goal difference. Thanks to the Canaries boasting the division’s leakiest defence with 26 goals conceded, to the Magpies’ 24 in 11 games.

Howe watched Newcastle in person as they came from behind to draw 1-1 at Brighton on Saturday. A much-needed point, keeping them from ending the day bottom of the table.

But Wilshere, who played under Howe at Bournemouth as they claimed their best Premier League finish, believes the new Newcastle coach can turn the club’s fortunes around.

“I worked with him at a club that I see now are quite similar to Newcastle – not in terms of the size of the club, but in terms of the players,” Wilshere said.

“Newcastle have got a few ex-Bournemouth players and that is what Eddie does. He gets the best out of those types of players, gets them going and he gets the fans on side.

“He’s a great manager. I think he deserves a chance. If he goes in and does really well, in a few years they could be pushing the top six, which I think he can do.

“When I played under him at Bournemouth, we arguably had a worse squad [than Newcastle have] and we finished ninth. So, he can definitely do that.”

Can Howe take Newcastle into PL top-six?

Howe will have his work cut out to turn Newcastle around from a relegation-threatened side to one threatening the top-six.

The Magpies’ draw at Brighton, while Norwich beat Brentford, meant they remained the only winless Premier League side this season.

Howe will need to use the international break to find a way to unlock more from his new Newcastle players.

Then attentions at St James’ Park will have to turn to the January transfer window and signing players who can ensure relegation is not a likely outcome.

Only after that can Howe set out trying to break into the top-six and securing Newcastle’s return to Europe. Achieving what no manager has done since Alan Pardew in 2012/13.