JAMIE CARRAGHER accused Newcastle of “letting down” Eddie Howe – and says he should consider quitting Toon for England.
The Magpies are riding high in the Champions League and have won five on the spin at home in all competitions.
But it is their Premier League form that has led to sections of the Toon Army questioning Howe with the club sitting 14th and just two points above the drop zone.
Newcastle blew a 1-0 lead to lose 3-1 at Brentford on Sunday to stretch their winless run on the road to nine in the top-flight.
Saturday marked Howe’s fourth anniversary at the helm. And he has taken them from bottom of the table to two Champions League qualifications, two Carabao Cup Finals and achieved legendary status by ending the 70-year wait for a major trophy last term.
However, Liverpool legend Carragher claims he has taken the North East club as far as he can and that replacing Thomas Tuchel, if the opportunity arise, would be perfect for him.
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Carragher told Sky Sports: “He’s going to go down whenever he moves on from the club as one of the greatest Newcastle managers.
“I’ve championed Eddie Howe as the next England manager. He’s a wonderful coach, the best English coach by a million miles.
“I love him to bits. But now that we’re four years in, I don’t think Eddie Howe can do any more than what he’s done at Newcastle.
“I don’t see Newcastle winning a Premier League. So I’m not sure there’s much more he can do. And that’s not just talking on the back of Newcastle being a couple of points outside the relegation zone or questioning the manager in any way. But Newcastle have let him down.”
Sun Sport understands Howe is under no pressure from chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan or PIF and they will offer all the support available to him and his staff.
Ross Wilson recently became the club’s third sporting director in four years. That left the Toon boss with a more hands-on approach during the summer transfer window after Paul Mitchell’s exit alongside his nephew and assistant head of recruitment Andy Howe.
And having to manage all that off-field change, plus PSR issues restricting what they can do despite their Saudi owners making them the richest club on the planet, Carragher believes the ex-Bournemouth coach deserves better.
He added: “The topsy-turvy nature of the club in terms of sporting directors – all the people behind the scenes.
“It almost feels at times like he’s there on his own. The big Saudi investment hasn’t really kicked on.
“Now they could question the PSR, the rules – I get all that. But something to me, when I look at how he had to handle the summer with the [Alexander] Isak situation, getting players in late like Yoane Wissa.
“It’s been a mess at Newcastle really and when you’re talking about one of the greatest managers they’ve ever had in their history, I think he deserves better.
“And if I’m thinking how Eddie Howe’s thinking, if that England job came up in the summer after the World Cup with Tuchel’s contract situation, I’d be there in a shot.
“Because as I said, I think he’s being let down. And I don’t think he can take Newcastle any further than what he’s done so far.”
Meanwhile, Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes admitted this was the worst situation he had been involved with since his arrival on Tyneside shortly after Howe.
But the Brazilian midfielder passionately called for everyone at the club to stick together.
He said on Instagram: “In almost four years at the club, we are going through perhaps one of the toughest moments. Just like in life, we can’t always be at the top.
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“But in times like this we need to stick together and never let go of each others’ hands.
“The first part of the season didn’t go as expected and after the break we need to find the chemistry that has guided us all this time until now. I can assure you we are just as sad as you, the fans.”
