Eddie Howe reveals Chelsea training ground visit after Newcastle United and England swap talk

As one of the top performing English managers, Howe has been heavily linked with the Three Lions post since July when Gareth Southgate stepped down after the Euro 2024 final defeat Spain.

That said, Howe revealed he hasn’t approached by the FA and further underlined his commitment to Newcastle. The 46-year-old also wished Tuchel well and labelled him a “great appointment” having shadowed him at Chelsea during his time out of the game.

Here’s everything Howe said about the England job:

Thomas Tuchel appointed England manager - what is your view on that?

“Several things, really. Firstly, speaking about Thomas himself, I've got a relationship with Thomas, I was fortunate enough to go and see him work at Chelsea when I was out of work and what a brilliant guy, a great person and coach. I had two days with him and thought he was fascinating, I really enjoyed his company.

“I really wish him well, I think it is a great appointment and I hope he leads England to many trophies.

“I have always said,  and I've been very clear on this whenever I’ve been asked, my preference would have been for an English coach but if you are going to go foreign and for one of the best then I certainly think Thomas is that.”

The FA have said 10 managers were interviewed, were you one of those?

“No, I wasn't, no.”

Any contact at all from the FA?

“No.”

Does that bother you at all that you weren’t spoken to?

"Absolutely not. I think England have to do what is right for them and only they will know the processes they've gone through and the decisions that they've made, and I'm certainly not the type of person that is going to analyse that.

“For me, it’s about Newcastle and about trying to win games, and it’s hard enough to do that if you’re 100% focused and I always remain that way to my work but I know if you drop your levels or focus the job become impossible and at no stage have I allowed myself to do that.”

There’s been a lot of speculation surrounding you and the England job, are you relieved it’s over?

“There was no-one more pleased than me to see Thomas get the job, really, and take it because it's just a distraction – not that it distracts me, but you can see it's unsettling at times when certain things are said and written about.

“The more that everyone can focus on Newcastle – which has always been my only concern – the better.”

Would England interest you one day in the future?

“Who knows? I've always said that you can never predict what's going to happen in management, you can never plan too far ahead. I certainly don't.

“I'm a day-to-day planner, while certainly acknowledging that Newcastle – I've always said this – has a future and we have to make sure we make the right decisions long-term.

“But the job takes so many twists and turns, you can't look too far ahead. I think that's negative, actually, if you do that, so in terms of my own career and what's five, 10 years ahead, I don't know, I've got no idea.

“But I'd never say that managing England isn't something I'd like to do maybe one day if given the opportunity, but my focus is Newcastle, Newcastle, Newcastle.”

You gave FA no encouragement and were consistent you wanted to stay in Newcastle from the moment we spoke to to you in pre-season?

“Absolutely. I said in Germany, right at the start, my focus was all on Newcastle and that has not changed for one second.”

If FA knocked on the front door (club’s front door, Howe interprets as his own) - would you have spoken to them?

“Hypothetical questions are very dangerous to answer. Listen, I will talk to anyone who knocks on my front door… but not in the respect of entering conversations about leaving Newcastle.”

Was there an English candidate out there?

“Yes, of course there was candidates. But I’m not going to critique the FA’s decision. The decision is down to them. They know a lot more than I do. They will have all the information. I don’t think it’s for me to judge that decision. But there are people out there who I think are very, very good who are English and they’re available. But I’m sure the FA did their work on that and they’ve come to their decision.”

Is the England job still the ultimate job for English coaches?

“I think if you’re looking to get into international football and you’ve got a passion for international football then absolutely yes. It depends on your viewpoint. If you’re looking domestically, and you love the day to day aspect of the job then you’ll have a different answer. It depends on your viewpoint. For me as kid I loved World Cups. I loved European Championships. I was obsessed with England trying to win something.

“I really do hope Thomas is able to do that for the country.”

There is a perception that one day you will be the head coach of England, do you feel that, and is that additional pressure on you?

“I don’t visualise that. I genuinely think about Newcastle and trying to lift a trophy here would be my goal and I immerse myself with what I’m in currently, so no other thoughts have entered my head.

“No, I don’t take on that feeling (of pressure). I just try to do the best I can.”