Leon Osman told BBC’s Football Focus (6/11, 12:28) that Newcastle United will be in good hands with Eddie Howe, even though fans were more excited by alternative managers.
The Magpies are close to appointing Howe as their next head coach to end the search for Steve Bruce’s successor.
Reports by Sky Sports claim the former Bournemouth boss has agreed to a two-and-a-half-year contract in principle with the Magpies.
Only the finer details are still to iron out, while finalising his backroom team to replace interim boss Graeme Jones.
Jones will oversee Newcastle’s trip to Brighton on Saturday, which The Athletic report Howe will attend if the paperwork’s signed.
Osman backs Howe for Newcastle job
Osman, who made 352 Premier League appearances for Everton, believes Newcastle will hire a top manager in Howe. While fans will be pleased with his arrival, even if some are underwhelmed after Unai Emery snubbed the job and the Toon passed on Paolo Fonseca.
“If I’m honest, when the names like Fonseca and Emery were getting banded about, I think they were probably more excited about those names,” he said.
“But also, they were dying for a manager of Eddie Howe’s name a couple of months back when they had Steve Bruce.
“So, I think they’ll be pleased. They know how he works, he’s a methodical manager, he will grow the team from the ground up.
“He will work with them tirelessly, coaching wise, and he is the kind of manager they need at the moment.
“You can’t go from nought to 100 in a second, you have to build the club up through stages. And I think they’ll be in good hands with Eddie Howe.”
Is Howe the right man for Newcastle?
Like Osman says, Howe can build a project at Newcastle if appointed as the Magpies’ next manager.
The 43-year-old took Bournemouth from the bottom of League Two and minutes from liquidation to the Premier League. And kept the Cherries in the top-flight for five seasons.
He thrilled with an ‘attack is the best form of defence’ style that the Toon were starved off under Bruce.
If Howe gets Newcastle playing to his tune, he should be a success at St James’ Park.
And already has some of the squad itching for his arrival, with the Daily Mail reporting Callum Wilson, Ryan Fraser and Matt Ritchie are keen to reunite with their former Cherries boss.
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