EDDIE KANE BREATHE EASIER NOW
ANXIOUS Eddie Howe has revealed he couldn’t share the Toon Army’s joy during Newcastle’s 6-1 humiliation of Tottenham 12 months ago – because he was too worried about Harry Kane.
St James’ Park was in party mood as the Magpies raced into a five-goal lead in 21 minutes but one man was left unmoved by the quickfire demolition.
“Let me tell you, I didn’t feel like the fans, not even for a second,” said Howe.
“Not when you’ve got Harry Kane on the other team.
Then he scores and you start looking at how long is left.
“That is the reality when you are a manager. You are looking at things in a totally different way to supporters.
“You cannot be in their world because you always have to ask yourself, ‘What if?’ and anticipate what can go wrong.”
Howe won’t have Kane (inset) to fret over this lunchtime but knows under Ange Postecoglou, the visitors present a far greater threat than they did last April. “Hopefully, it will be the same,” he added. “It was one of those special days when it all clicked.
“But I would take any win this time. “Spurs have changed their philosophy and their style of play and now have goals from all over the pitch rather than the one main source.”
After a testing winter, Newcastle have emerged from the international break with seven points out of nine, reviving their European prospects after they were written off in the wake of their FA
Cup defeat at Manchester City.
“We knew that result would be perceived negatively, with a lot of people saying Newcastle’s season is done,” said Howe.
“But we certainly didn’t think that and knew we could stil have a part to play in terms of places for Europe.”