Eddie Howe makes Newcastle future admission ahead of huge meeting with owners

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Eddie Howe has admitted his yearly sit-down with Newcastle United's hierarchy next week will be "slightly harder" after a difficult spell of results. The Magpies endured a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Arsenal away from home on Saturday night.

On the whole, the Magpies arguably deserved a point, but they were not able to find the net when it mattered most, while Eberechi Eze found the top corner with what turned out to be the winning goal. The defeat to the Gunners was their fourth consecutive Premier League match without a victory.

They have only won two of their last eight Premier League matches, a 1-0 home victory over Manchester United , which was soon followed by a 1-0 away victory over Chelsea . Throughout this period, they were also brutally knocked out of the Champions League by Barcelona, who won 8-3 on aggregate.

After the loss at the Emirates Stadium, Howe revealed there will be talks between him and the hierarchy at St. James' Park. He told Sky Sports : "These are things that we always have every year.

"Obviously this one will be slightly harder for me I'm sure, but it will be good to meet with the owners and discuss the future."

While several supporters have become disillusioned with the displays Howe has overseen lately, Jamie Redknapp insisted the Englishman has earned the right to decide for himself when his Newcastle tenure should come to an end.

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He argued: "I think Eddie has done enough to decide whatever he wants at the club. I think there's a genuine love for him up there. I think the fans will be disappointed with the season, understandably.

"I think they're 14th in the league. They'll have expected a lot more when you look at what they've done previously. He deserves the opportunity and the luxury of deciding what happens.

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"There might come to a point at the end of the season Eddie thinks, 'I've maybe taken this group as far as I can.' I looked at that squad today and that starting team and you've got [Nick] Woltemade doesn't start, whose big money signing. [Anthony] Elanga doesn't start - big money signing. [Yoane] Wissa...

"So there's obviously something not right with the recruitment however that's worked out, because for the money they've spent, for those players not to be starting isn't good enough. And the performances haven't been acceptable."

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Paul Merson, meanwhile, added: "I'm a big fan of Eddie Howe. If Eddie Howe leaves Newcastle, they'll be queueing up around the corner for him. So that tells you everything. Be careful Newcastle.

"Chelsea would take him tomorrow morning, you'd like to think so wouldn't you? In my opinion, they'd take him all day long. We're talking about a next England manager, 100 per cent.

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"As I say, everybody would be queueing up to take Eddie Howe, he's a top manager. He's just had injuries and with the [Alexander] Isak thing at the end of the season. I think Eddie has done enough to decide whatever he wants at the club. I think there's a genuine love for him up there.

"Isak was a big player for them, ripped Arsenal to shreds in the semi-finals last year when they went on and won it. He's a top player. These two have come in, no disrespect to them, they just haven't fulfilled it yet."

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