Newcastle have no concerns about the Football Association approaching Eddie Howe for the England manager’s role, as they are keen for him to stay and build the club long-term.
The Magpies’ head coach has been strongly linked with the Three Lions job since Gareth Southgate stepped down after the Euros.
Concerns were reignited that Howe could be nudged towards an exit from St James’ Park following the club’s failure to secure a major signing this summer.
Lee Carsley will oversee England’s matches against Ireland on Friday and Finland on Tuesday. The FA may intensify their hunt for a permanent manager in time for the March internationals, with Howe being considered.
But he maintains his full commitment to Newcastle as long as he is content. Newcastle’s sporting director Paul Mitchell has now addressed the rumours surrounding Howe and the England job, dismissing the speculation.
Mitchell said: “The way I see it is that it’s proof that someone’s doing a really great job. I think Eddie getting recognised with a job like that, because of the work he’s done, is fair recognition for the really good job that he’s done.
“I think Eddie has said this, and I’m no different, we’re both proud Englishmen. We want Eddie Howe as our head coach for as long as we can. The way I see it is that it’s an example that it’s proof that someone’s doing a really great job.
“I think Eddie getting recognised with a job like that, because of the work he’s done, is fair recognition for the really good job that he’s done.
“But we also recognise we are on a journey, and we also recognise his quality and his potential as well. Once again, I’ve never been a guy scared of interest in any of our staff members, especially our head coach, and especially from a level of organisation that the FA is.
“As an Englishman, I am proud. And I think it’s a recognition of the two-and-a-half years he’s had here and the job he did at Bournemouth. It’s a really good practitioner being recognised for what he’s done.”
Mitchell says he is building a relationship with Howe and that they have lots of “commonality” and are working well together.
Asked if he would be involved in hiring and firing managers, Mitchell said: “‘Am I involved? Yes. Will I have an opinion? Yes. Should I have an opinion? Yes. But in this current structure it will be dependent on multiple people’s opinions at a given time where that decision would be taken
“The last time I saw him Eddie was pretty happy because we’d just beaten Tottenham at home, he was chuffed to bits.
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