Eddie Howe rubbishes summer step-down rumours, insists focus is on driving Newcastle forward | OneFootball

Eddie Howe has rubbished reports that he could step down as Newcastle United manager at the end of the season.

Newcastle have endured an up-and-down campaign, with the Magpies currently 11th in thePremier League table. Defeat at Liverpool last weekend has left Newcastle eight points adrift of the top four.

Newcastle also exited the Carabao Cup in midweek after a 5-1 aggregate defeat to Manchester City in the semi-finals.

Howe has twice guided Newcastle to Champions League qualification and, last season, ended the club's long wait for a major trophy withLeague Cup success.

However, the current campaign has been challenging for the 48-year-old after a frustrating transfer window last summer.

Howe has been tentatively linked with the managerial positions at Manchester United and England, should Thomas Tuchel step down from his role with the latter after the 2026 World Cup.

At his pre-match press conference, ahead of facing Brentford in thePremier League tomorrow, Howe was also asked about the reports that he could step down in the summer.

"That is a surprise to me. As I said to the question earlier, I give my best every day to the football club, to all the players and staff to try and be the best version of myself to inspire the team to win games.

"That is the only thing in my thoughts. I don't tend to look too far ahead. I try and prepare and plan for the club to move forward in every sense. My individual future is not really relevant.

"My message is that we are fighting and I think you can see that on the pitch.

"The players are giving me everything every two, three, four days to be successful. Wednesday was disappointing. We wanted to give it a really good fight, a really good effort to try and get into the final.

"The players were hugely motivated and then we concede early in the game and the game becomes very difficult, but credit to the players for the response in the second half. They kept going, kept trying to score and creating chances right through the game and now we have to do it again. There is no break for us.

"I can assure you that the players are maxed out physically and mentally and we obviously see them behind the scenes. That is the same with the staff, we are all trying for success.

"It doesn't always go in straight lines, there will be bumps in the road, as there has been this season, but we will give our all to get a positive outcome."