Howe’s set to go South

EDDIE HOWE for England coach? You mean the boss who has spent £200million since joining Newcastle, and had not won a game since the opening day of the season (until Saturday’s clash with Fulham).

“The bloke who,” in the infamous words of Steve Bruce when he was Toon boss. “Took Bournemouth down…”

Never won a major trophy, or managed in Europe, or handled, until recently, high-profile internationals worth tens of millions.

There will be plenty who think that Howe (below) being in the frame for the national team job is over-hyping of a coach who still has much to prove. But there is reason behind the Toon chief being in the frame, and logic behind his diplomatic answer when asked about the England role on Friday.

Howe is one of the bookies’ favourites to replace Gareth Southgate should England’s World Cup campaign flop.

He was a candidate in the past before Southgate transformed the national team.

He is English, which is important given the pathways through the ranks the FA rightly like to open up for players and coaches.

Another top candidate, Graham Potter, has taken over at Chelsea and is likely to be otherwise engaged on £12m a year for the next couple of seasons at least.

Howe could do a job right now, if appointed. Many months ago I argued he was Newcastle’s version of Southgate. Smart, deep thinking, savvy in his dealings with players and media, collegiate and able to knit teams of people together on and off the pitch.

But he insisted on Friday that the job isn’t for him just now. He likes his daily contact with players.

He also has a once-in-a-lifetime chance at Newcastle to build a club, break a trophy drought, and become a legend.

If Howe succeeds on Tyneside over the next five years, the England job will be his. Just not right now.