‘Short memories’ - Ex-Newcastle United defender fires brutal shutdown of ‘Eddie Howe out’ mob

Former Newcastle United right-back John Anderson has slammed the fraction of supporters calling for Eddie Howe’s head.

Recent months have proven difficult, with the Magpies crashing out of every cup competition. Newcastle also sit 10th in the Premier League and have slim to zero chance of repeating last season’s top-four heroics.

Howe vowed after the FA Cup defeat to Manchester City that the campaign is not over and his side have plenty to play for. Achieving a European finish - however that comes - would be considered a solid season.

A crippling injury list and congested fixture list due to Champions League qualification have been cited as explanations for Newcastle’s downturn in form. But that has not stopped Howe, for the first time since arriving on Tyneside, coming under pressure.

Speaking on BBC Radio Newcastle, ex-Toon defender Anderson, who also stuck up for Dan Burn and Sean Longstaff, launched a staunch attack of those demanding Howe out. The 64-year-old said: “Was he tactically inept last season? Newcastle fans would have given him manager of the year last year for what he did and for what he achieved.

"A lot of Newcastle fans were shouting for Dan Burn to be in an England squad last season. A lot of Newcastle fans were shouting for Sean Longstaff to be in the England squad last season. These people have short memories.

"You can't go from all of a sudden being on the verge of the England squad that people want you to be in to 'he's out of his depth and he's not good enough'. You can't have it both ways."