GOOD MORNING FOOTY FANS
Newcastle are expected to confirm the appointment of Eddie Howe as their new manager today.
The former Bournemouth chief is due to put pen to paper on a two-and-a-half-year contract after agreeing the deal in principle yesterday.
The Toon have been looking for a new boss since sacking Steve Bruce last month.
Club director Amanda Staveley has been working overtime to get Howe in place after the club’s attempts to recruit Villarreal boss Unai Emery fell through.
Interim boss Graeme Jones is expected to speak at today’s press conference ahead of Saturday’s trip to Brighton and will be part of Howe’s backroom staff.
News about Howe agreeing the deal broke while three Prem sides were getting underway in European action last night.
It was all the fun of the fair as Antonio Conte’s reign at Spurs started with a Europa Conference League win over Vitesse – but only just.
Strikes from Heung-min Son and Lucas Moura and an own-goal from Jacob Rasmussen had Spurs 3-0 up but the Dutch side reduced arrears to 3-2.
As if that was exciting enough Tottenham finished the match with ten men following Cristian Romero’s dismissal, and the Dutch side with nine men after skipper Danilho Doekhi and keeper Markus Schubert walked.
Said Benrahma’s second-half double had West Ham on course for a Europa League win but a late own goal from Tomas Soucek meant they had to settle for a 2-2 draw against Genk.
Leicester talisman Jamie Vardy saw a second-half penalty saved as they were held 1-1 in a Europa League clash with Spartak Moscow.
And all that European action came on the back of Gareth Southgate announcing his latest England squad for this month’s World Cup qualifiers against Albania and San Marino.
All the Three Lions talk was more about who was left out rather than who was called up with out-of-form Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho among those to miss the cut.