14 February 2024 , 10:42
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Former Newcastle United striker Alan Shearer insists he's happy with Eddie Howe at Newcastle United, amid suggestions Jose Mourinho could replace the Magpies manager.
Howe led Newcastle to a fourth place finish in the Premier League last season and masterminded a memorable 4-1 victory over Paris Saint-Germain in this season's Champions League. The Toon failed to make it out of their European group, though, and sit 10 points adrift of fifth place after 24 games in the league.
The manager's struggles have come against the backdrop of an injury crisis, and that has been enough for some to argue Howe's case despite the declining results. Nick Pope and Joelinton are among those to spend long periods out, while Sandro Tonali is serving a lengthy suspension.
Mourinho is among the big-name managers on the market, with his Roma stint coming to an end earlier this season. However, Shearer - despite being a fan of the Portuguese - doesn't want Howe to go anywhere.
“He has had an amazing career, Jose," Shearer said on The Rest is Football podcast. "Where he goes next I’m not sure. But, no, I am very happy with Eddie Howe at Newcastle and the job he has done and the role he is doing.”
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Mourinho's Premier League career included two spells with Chelsea and stints with Manchester United and Tottenham. He joined Roma after leaving Spurs in 2021, winning the Europa Conference League in his first season and reaching the Europa League final in his second.
Year three was a more frustrating one, though, with the Giallorossi dropping to ninth before deciding Mourinho's time was up. He has since been replaced by club legend Daniele De Rossi, who has lifted the team back into European contention.
Do you want to see Jose Mourinho at Newcastle? Have your say in the comments section
Jose Mourinho has been out of work since leaving Roma in January (AFP via Getty Images)Newcastle are unbeaten in their last three league games, but have just one clean sheet from their last 10 outings in the competition. Speaking ahead of the last match - a 3-2 victory over Nottingham Forest, Howe opened up on the injury woes which have damaged his team's momentum.
“Usually your muscle pulls, you're looking at and going, 'Is there a way we could have avoided that?'" Howe said. "Some have come from too much load or maybe our programmes are not good enough in the gym. The players do a lot of gym work. If we are sitting here going we have not made any mistakes I think we are being fools.
“When I say we are, I include everyone at the football club. No individual, no individual department, we are all in it together. Of course we have to look at that and respond and improve. It’s been one of those seasons where you can feel everything has gone against us.
"We hope it’s been a one off season. Not just the number of injuries, but the length of time. It has been three or four months for five, six, eight players. There has been no light at the end of the tunnel and then your squad is stretched and you get more injuries. Certainly, we have made mistakes. Certainly we could do things better. And then you add Sandro (Tonali’s betting ban).”
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