Howe to address chief executive’s commentspublished at 09:57 BST
09:57 BST
Crystal Palace v Newcastle (Sun, 14:00 BST)
Ciaran Kelly
BBC Sport reporter
Image source, Getty Images
You suspect Eddie Howe has not necessarily missed the treadmill of news conferences.
The Newcastle United head coach has been sitting down with
reporters every few days since the end of August.
But it felt like this international break came at the right
time. In more ways than one.
As much as Newcastle would have wanted another game quickly,
after suffering a damaging derby defeat against Sunderland last month, it has given
Howe and a number of his players a rare breather as well as some
much-needed training time.
Newcastle, clearly, need to respond, starting with the trip
to Selhurst Park on Sunday, as they look to do what they have failed to do all
season: go on a run.
Chief executive David Hopkinson was certainly clear in declaring he
expected a strong finish to the campaign last week.
It is important to stress the hierarchy remain behind Howe, who ended the club’s 70-year wait for a major domestic
trophy by winning the EFL Cup last season and, also, led his side to Champions
League qualification in 2025 and 2023.
But expect the Newcastle head coach to be asked about Hopkinson’s comments and
what feels like a defining period.