Mills: Newcastle dressing room handed ‘vital’ boost after confirmed Howe news
The Newcastle United dressing room has been handed a major boost after it was confirmed Eddie Howe will be with the team against Arsenal.
That is the view of ex-Middlesbrough and England full-back Danny Mills, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about Howe’s “vitally important” return.
Newcastle confirmed today (November 26) the manager will take his place in the dugout against Arsenal after testing negative for covid.
He had to watch the 3-3 draw with Brentford last weekend from a Newcastle hotel room after testing positive for covid.
Howe only returned the positive test last Friday after spending the week working with his new players.
“It’s not so much about the touchline, it’s in the dressing room beforehand and at half-time,” Mills told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“Even on the training ground, that’s what is vitally important.
“It’s him getting his personality across and his instructions across, it will be much, much easier than doing it through his assistant.
“If his assistant was identical you wouldn’t need Eddie Howe.
“The levels will raise with him there. You don’t always get the bigger picture when you’re watching it on video, you don’t get a feel for how it is.
“Of course, if managers didn’t make a difference they would be on holiday all the time!”
Newcastle go into their fixture with Arsenal at the Emirates bottom of the Premier League table, five points from safety.
They are the only team in England’s top four divisions yet to win a league game this term.
In other news, some Newcastle United stars will be ‘annoyed’ by what Howe has banned from training HQ.