Former Newcastle United forward Michael Owen believes Newcastle could qualify for Europe this season, seal a place in the Champions League by 2025 and mount a title challenge in the next “four or five years.”
Owen also revealed how ‘impressed’ he was with Eddie Howe’s knowledge and character after spending a lot of time in the TV studio with the Newcastle United boss following his departure from Bournemouth in 2020.
What impressed our ex-record signing the most was Howe’s man management; something that’s shone through over the past 12 months when you see how the atmosphere around the squad improved instantly upon his arrival.
While signings have been excellent – Bruno Guimaraes being the most notable – the 44-year-old’s ability to galvanise players already at the club like Joelinton and Miguel Almiron and completely turn their form around has been incredible.
On Howe and Newcastle, Owen said: “It’s exciting times for Newcastle. The manager’s somebody that I know well. I did a lot of TV work with him once he left Bournemouth and was out of a job, and I can’t tell you how impressed I was with his knowledge – and just him as a person.
“I can imagine him being a brilliant man manager, nice guy, and knows his stuff. I think that they’ve made a brilliant appointment with Eddie Howe, and I think that so far he’s just done an incredible job.
“The players he signed, Bruno Guimaraes in particular is already a cult hero up there. But they’ve got others, they’ve got some great players, and absolutely I can see Newcastle going from strength to strength, maybe even European football this year. I wouldn’t put it past them and who knows.
Owen added: “If you’re looking three, four or five years down the line, you’d be foolish to discount Newcastle if you’re talking about Champions League places – and maybe even going for the title in four or five years. You just don’t know.
“So it’s probably exciting times for Newcastle fans at the minute – and that’s putting it lightly.”
Although not well-like by the majority of our fanbase, hearing positive stories regarding Eddie Howe from someone like Michael Owen can only instil Newcastle fans with confidence that we have the right man at the helm.
