‘Fantastic’ - Newcastle United U23s boss opens up on first meeting with Eddie Howe

Newcastle United under-23s boss Elliott Dickman has spoken positively about his first meeting with Eddie Howe.

Howe’s arrival as head coach four weeks ago has lifted the mood on Tyneside with the players buying into his intense training sessions and what is being demanded of them.

Clear improvements have been made to the squad, who won their first game of the Premier League season at the 15th attempt against Burnley on Saturday.

But the 44-year-old has done more than take an interest in the first team, with Howe and his coaching staff having met Dickman and his youngsters.

‘Very friendly’

“We’ve met him (Eddie Howe),” Dickman told NewcastleWorld. “They (Howe & his coaching staff) came across and watched some of our training.

“Everybody was introduced and he said hello. Obviously he had the spell where he wasn’t around.

“He’s very, very busy with the first-team so that will be taking up a lot of his time but the day we met him and his coaching staff, they were fantastic.

“(They were) very friendly and made a point to speak to us all, so he was good.”

Eddie Howe gives youth a chance

Indeed, Elliot Anderson continues to train with Howe’s squad, while the likes of Matthew Bondswell, Jack Young and in-form forward Dylan Stephenson have trained under Howe in recent weeks.

Dickman continued: “If they get that opportunity, it’s never easy.

“It sounds like something that should be straightforward but that opportunity, you’ve got to be ready for and make sure you take it.

“To be fair to the lads who’ve been up, they have enjoyed it and will probably learn quite a bit but there are still bits they’ve got to try and develop as well.”