Howe defiant as he vows to 'show character'

It was hard to recall a time where Eddie Howe looked quite so crestfallen. In public, at least.

The Newcastle United head coach's side had just been booed off following a damaging 3-2 defeat by Brentford at St James' Park on Saturday night.

It was a result which left Newcastle in 12th place.

A downbeat Howe admitted post-match that he was "not doing my job well enough at the moment" following a run of one win in eight games.

But he was defiant at his latest news conference on Monday, and said there was "no doubt" in his mind he was the right man for the job.

"Everyone is looking to you to set the tone," he said on the eve of a crucial away game against Tottenham Hotspur.

"People want to follow - that's human nature - so if you have strength as a leader at these moments, you can drag everybody with you.

"It's the most important time to stand up and show your character and how much it means to you."

Howe retains the backing of Newcastle's hierarchy, having had a transformational impact on the club since his appointment in 2021.

He has experienced sticky spells before, but has previously found a way to come through them.

"I've got to think that I'm the right person for the job and I'm giving value and helping the players and, ultimately, that I'm the right person to get results," Howe added.

"As long as I feel that in my heart and in my spirit, then my desire and my motivation levels are as high as they've ever been.

"That's the key question I always have to ask myself: am I the right person to take the team and the club forward?"