Shay Given asked whether Eddie Howe could find his Newcastle United job under threat | OneFootball

Shay Given has been talking about Newcastle United.

The United legend speaking after Sunday’s Premier League defeat at West Ham.

Also of course, Shay Given chatting ahead of the Champions League match against Athletic Bilbao.

A swift chance and opportunity for Eddie Howe and his Newcastle United players to bounce back from that performance at the London Stadium.

Shay Given speaking to 10bet and asked; ‘Do you think Eddie Howe will come under pressure if Newcastle United do not get Champions League football this season?’

“No, I don’t think it puts him in a difficult position. I think from day one, he’s been the perfect fit for Newcastle.

“The way he’s been with the new owners, the way he talks to the press.

“He got them the Champions League two out of three years, and they will remember he brought them up from the relegation zone. He gave them their first trophy in 70 years.

“I was there 12 years, I know how they feel at the club, how difficult it was for the fans. So I think there’s a huge amount of credit in the bank for Eddie.

“I think he is the perfect fit for Newcastle with regards to the way he speaks after games, before games, even after the defeat at West Ham. I mean, it’s a poor performance [at West Ham] and he’s not come out and tried to cover anything up.

“He’s very honest with the fans and the media as well.

“He says it wasn’t good enough and there’s something they have to improve, they have to rectify.

“Going back to the start of the season, they want to be in the Champions League every single season. Eddie knows that. I’m sure that’s the message from the owners and the powers that be as well. So of course that brings pressure to his position, but I don’t think there’s any worry about his job or anything like that.”

Shay Given asked; ‘What do Newcastle need to do to beat Athletic Club this week?’

“After the loss against West Ham, there’ll be a reaction, I think.

“I think they will be frustrated after the defeat on Sunday. Things felt positive beforehand, and it felt like West Ham was a chance to get the monkey off our back in terms of away form.

“However, the performance wasn’t great, so there is some frustration because of that.

“You can only imagine what the sort of talk was this morning in the training ground and what it’ll be in the next couple of days building up to the game on Wednesday.

“They need a reaction, they need a response and they need to get a win. Newcastle, they have ambitions of going far in the Champions League and, and getting back in the Champions League. So you’re going on all fronts. And I suppose the only positive thing I take from yesterday is when you have a bad performance, Wednesday is coming quickly for them to get it out of their system.

“It’s like we go again and again. I’ve no doubt that the stadium will be rocking on Wednesday night. And again, players have to perform better than they did yesterday. I think they will. I don’t have any fears about that. The concern will be the next away game basically in the Premier League and what do they do in that.”