‘I’m staying for 100 years’
summer but for a long-running ankle injury first suffered at Burnley two seasons ago but it is only now he feels back to full fitness and at his best.
“It was a difficult time, one of the most difficult times of my career and my life as well,” said Winks. “It was relentless, almost every day, not getting better and it came to the point where I had to have an operation and have surgery to get back.
“It originally happened at Burnley and I came back, got myself fit which was great and I played in some big games against Real Madrid. I was always playing with a bit of pain but the time I felt it the most was after Rochdale away in the FA Cup.
“I remember the day after, I knew there was a problem there. I tried to play on for a couple of months and yet I was in and out of training. Eventually I decided it was time to go to Qatar, get some treatment out there and then have an operation.”
Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino actually gave Winks some tough love, pushing him and urging him to play through the pain and that challenge appears to be paying off. “When you look with hindsight, it’s important EDDIE HOWE says he will not let rumours of a move to Tottenham distract him, claiming that he is committed to Bournemouth for 100 years.
Former Spurs player Jamie Redknapp believes Howe, below, would be a “perfect replacement” for Mauricio Pochettino if the Argentinianw quits for Manchester United.
But Howe said: “I always say that I’m going to be here for the next 100 years.
“It’s absolutely foolish to think of anything other than this club. I’m absolutely committed 100 per cent here.
“Tottenham have an outstanding manager who is doing an unbelievable job.
I do not pay it [speculation] any attention whatsoever. It has got absolutely no relevance to me.
“Football is not black and white and you do not know what’s round the corner. I learned as a player you can be on top of the world one minute and injured for two years the next.
“It is a rollercoaster and it is the same in management.”
Bournemouth host Brighton today, with Seagulls striker Glenn
BOURNEMOUTH BRIGHTON
VMurray tipping Howe to take over one of the top six clubs in the Premier League.
British managers seem to have been overlooked for the big jobs over the years, with the likes of Sam Allardyce, Tony Pulis, Steve Bruce and Neil Warnock seen as less glamorous than a foreign boss.
Even Brighton’s Chris Hughton has rarely been linked.
“Sometimes I think British managers get stereotyped or given a niche,” said Murray. “But our gaffer is doing very well and I suspect he will be on the radar of the clubs if other jobs were to come up after being so successful here.
“Eddie Howe would be the one I’d say is a little bit different. He’s a young, forwardthinking manager and I really do think he will get a good job at a big club in the future.
“Even now, any time there is a job out there, Eddie gets linked with it.”