PIANO TOONER
While the virtuoso bosses circle him Eddie admits he’s been tickling the ivories playing A-HA, revealing: It stops me thinking about 4-3-3
EDDIE HOWE warned Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann not to take him on – after revealing he’s learning to play A-ha’s classic Take on Me.
Howe says he tinkles the ivories to relieve the stress of failing to get a tune out of the Toon.
But much like life at St James’ Park currently, he admitted mastering the piano has not been black and white.
“I was tinkling last night,” said the Newcastle boss. “Not very well. I don’t have lessons. I was having lessons a while ago.
“When I’m playing the piano, I’m not thinking of 4-3-3 or 4-4-2. It is a chance to get away. It’s a rare moment for me to do that because in most other parts of my life, like walking the dog or going to sleep, I’m thinking about football.”
So how close is he to giving 80s heartthrob Morten Harket a run for his money?
“It’s one my favourite songs,” he said. “Anyone who knows that song will know how difficult it is and how quick it is. So I’m a long way off that – I can sort of barely recognise the chorus.” There have been plenty of bum notes on the pitch for Newcastle of late, leading to speculation they could be hunting high and low for a new boss in the summer.
Newcastle have picked up 11 points in their last 12 league games, and Nagelsmann was linked with wanting the Toon job after the Euros.
Thomas Tuchel and Jose Mourinho are also thought to be interested.
But Howe said of the speculation: “Genuinely it doesn’t affect me. I’m here. I’m sat in the seat. My future will be defined by what I do, no one else.
“I back myself and my ability. I know my qualities. I know what I bring to the job and I have ambitions for the team and the club. I don’t try to get involved in it.”
Newcastle bombed out of the Champions League at the group stage and are 10th in the Premier League, fighting to stay in European qualifying contention. They have drawn Manchester City away in the FA Cup last eight.
The Toon owners are said to be supportive and Howe added: “It’s difficult for me to speak for them, but I have felt a support and an understanding for the season and things that have been thrown at us.
“We’re not at our fluent best but there is a lot of good.
“There is some frustration that we’re not quite ourselves, but I think that will come. You’ll see the real Newcastle again.”