‘Stressful summer’ – but Howe ‘excited’ for season

Eddie Howe could not help but laugh.

“I was going to give the stock answer,” the Newcastle United head coach said, when asked how his summer had been. “But it has been stressful…”

That is an understatement.

Newcastle went into the transfer window with no CEO and no sporting director, which Howe said was “not ideal”.

CEO Darren Eales handed in his notice last autumn because of a serious health problem and is yet to be replaced, while Paul Mitchell announced in May he was leaving his role as sporting director.

During the transfer window, Newcastle have missed out on several targets, including strikers Benjamin Sesko, Hugo Ekitike and Joao Pedro, and goalkeeper James Trafford.

Howe is also dealing with the fact striker Alexander Isak remains determined to join Liverpool after the champions had a £110m bid rejected earlier this month.

Isak continues to train away from the rest of his team-mates – and his absence has been felt.

Not only has the Swede been Newcastle’s talisman, he was also popular in the dressing room.

“I don’t think it’s been healthy for us,” Howe said. “I don’t deny that’s been a big challenge.

“Alex, for me, is one of the best strikers in the world – if not the best. To miss him from your squad leaves a huge gap.”

The situation remains “ongoing”, and Howe recognises Newcastle will “have to find a way without him” for their opening Premier League game against Aston Villa.

Howe acknowledged there had been a “negativity around us” during the transfer window which they had to “try to repel and not absorb”.

And with things unsettled behind the scenes, he has made it clear to his players they have to be “more together than ever”.

“I think morale was certainly affected early on during pre-season,” he said. “There was nothing I could do to affect that – it was always going to be there.

“When you have a player that good who is not part of your group, it’s difficult for the players to fully understand it and to know what’s going on and how to react.

“But, as time has gone on, there has been an acceptance this is the squad and we have got to make the best of the situation. That’s always been my train of thought.

Prior to this week, Anthony Elanga and Aaron Ramsdale had been Newcastle’s only senior additions this summer.

But it feels like progress has been made in recent days, with Newcastle close to signing Aston Villa midfielder Jacob Ramsey in a deal worth about £40m having already added defender Malick Thiaw from AC Milan.

“I’m really excited by Malick,” Howe said. “I think he is a great age. He’s full of potential and the best of his career is yet to come.

“He’s an imposing character. He’s 6ft 4in, quick, athletic, good on the ball. Those types of players are very rare to find. He’s a good character as well so I’m very excited by what he can bring.

“I like all our signings. Anthony will bring his unique mix of pace, speed and creativity. Aaron is a real character. We have known him for a long time, but he’s a very good goalkeeper.

“I’m still hoping for more. I think we need more. We have got some big gaps within the squad still.”

Callum Wilson left the club when his contract expired in the summer, and Howe acknowledged “centre-forward is an issue”.

“We have been looking to replace Callum for some time,” he said. “He was such a good servant for us and, of course, we have had issues with Alex’s situation this year so that position is definitely a cause for concern.”

Understandably so. Newcastle remain interested in Brentford striker Yoane Wissa, and Anthony Gordon looks set to lead the line against Aston Villa.

Starting the season with a winger up front was never part of the plan, but Howe’s determination is palpable as Newcastle look to build on qualifying for the Champions League and ending their 70-year wait for a major domestic trophy.

“When you experience that and you have the feeling of winning, you think it’s going to be great but, let me tell you, the experience is even better than I thought it would be,” he said. “It does make you hungrier for more.

“It does make you appreciate the role you’re doing, the job you’re doing, and the ability to affect the people around Newcastle in the way we did.

A few months have passed since Newcastle’s Carabao Cup final victory over Liverpool.

After the game, a tearful Howe reflected on “the people that aren’t with you” – including his late mum Anne.

She was a single parent who raised Howe and his siblings while holding down several jobs, and encouraged Howe to follow his dreams.

“She’s still with me every day,” he said. “It’s a difficult one because you’re not consciously thinking about her on a minute-by-minute basis or even a day-by-day basis to a degree.

“But I know that her spirit, her courage and her determination is with me in so many different ways in how I act and behave. I know she’s willing me on from somewhere, and very proud. I just hope to do her justice in the way that I work.

“I feel I have a duty to protect her legacy by how I conduct myself in what I do. I’m very driven for more success. I’m very determined to do my best, which is all I can do, and hopefully that will be good enough.”

Howe is also intent on making those closest to him proud after they followed him up from the south coast.

His wife Vicki and sons Harry, Rocky and Theo have certainly bought into life on Tyneside.

Howe said: “I asked my youngest to do something yesterday and his answer was: ‘Howay dad!’ I always have a little second glance and check their language.

“It’s brilliant that they’re fully immersed in the Newcastle way of life, the language, the way of thinking. It’s such a great area with such positive, driven and motivated people. I’m very proud that they are going to be adopted Geordies.”

Howe acknowledged his family are one of a small group of people who see the “down days” and said they were “very supportive”.

“They know when to leave dad alone just for a few minutes and let him digest what has just happened,” he said. “Sometimes they can be brutal with a joke that actually lifts the atmosphere. You take it in a light-hearted way because it’s coming from such a good place.

“They are absolutely vital in enabling me to work and enjoy my life. They’re part of it and I’m very proud of them.”

Howe, undoubtedly, has had a challenging summer but remains determined to make this season another one to remember.

“If you can’t be excited by what we have to come – the Champions League, all the competitions we are going to be in – there is something wrong,” he said.