Mauricio is a role model for Eddie
EDDIE HOWE has revealed he models himself on Mauricio Pochettino ahead of today’s showdown with the man he could replace as Tottenham manager.
Bournemouth boss Howe is Spurs’ No1 choice to succeed Pochettino if the Argentinian is lured away by Manchester United.
Howe said: “The biggest compliment I can give him is that he improves players.
“If you look at the players he has worked with for a consistent period of time, they have all got better and are playing at higher levels. The team has benefited because of that.
“He is an outstanding manager, works incredibly hard, is committed to his club and does all the right things. He is definitely someone I admire and definitely someone that you look at and think he has a lot of qualities you would want in yourself as a manager.”
Howe has hinted he is ready to let former Spurs star Jermain Defoe leave Bournemouth when the transfer window reopens next month.
England striker Defoe, 36, is wanted by a host of Championship clubs and also by former employers Sunderland after playing just 22 Premier League minutes this season. Howe said: “I could not give an absolute clear answer to a lot of players in the squad; the ones that aren’t playing regularly and are very keen to play.
“I will have to sit down with Jermain and have that conversation. He is someone we hold in such high regard and has done such a great job here in many different ways.
“He has trained very well, his attitude and conduct have been first class. He is like anyone in the squad, he is desperate to play and feels he can contribute.
“He is still an outstanding player when I see him in training and what he has delivered is of the highest quality “The difficulty for me is I have got Josh King, Callum Wilson and Lys Mousset. I have got quality players vying for those positions
“I have sympathy with anybody who has shown his attitude and isn’t playing. He has been superb this season.”
Asked if Howe would give Defoe a run-out at Wembley for old time’s sake, he added: “I have got to pick the best team for Bournemouth. I can never let sentiment come into my thinking.
“I pick all my players on merit.”