03 August 2023 , 21:30
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Eddie Howe has vowed to “hit the targets” set by Newcastle United’s ambitious Saudi owners who have demanded the club become “No1.”
The Saudi chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan revealed his ultimate aim in Prime Video’s documentary We Are Newcastle, which premiered last night, with the first episode shown next week.
Howe has led Newcastle from the bottom three to a top four finish last season in less than two years in charge. The Geordies will compete in the Champions League this season and are adjusting to their newly won place among the elite of the top flight - and the expectation that brings.
But the greatest indication of where the Saudis want to take the club has come from within, with Al-Rumayyan’s demand that they have the correct “mindset” to grow and become “No1”.
Howe has not held talks with the Public Investment Fund chief over and has insisted the biggest pressure he feels is from his own ambition.
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The Newcastle boss said: “I know the expectations of the football club. I know his thoughts and aims and ambitions and I want to hit those targets for him.
Eddie Howe's Newcastle face Aston Villa in their Premier League opener on August 12 (Getty Images)“The pressure I feel is from myself. Even if Yasir could sit me down and have a talk I would welcome that and if he wanted to give me direct objectives, no problem, that wouldn’t create a fear in me. The fear comes from myself.
“Ultimately I have to look at myself. I can only do what I can do. That is what I mark myself against: what I am giving. If I am giving my all."
Newcastle United will compete in the Champions League next season (Getty Images)Howe will deflect the pressure, and targets of finishing in the Champions League places for a second year, by concentrating on United’s tough start to the season.
He added: “The key thing is not to think about that. The key thing last season was: can we beat, say, Nottingham Forest (on the opening day last season)? If we beat them it is a great place to build a season. Now it is: can we beat Aston Villa? It is not a given. The start we have this season is very very difficult. That is a challenge we have to overcome.”