Newcastle can go top of the Premier League with victory at Fulham on Saturday, despite lingering tension behind the scenes.
Eddie Howe would not say if he has spoken to sporting director Paul Mitchell this week. He revealed last week there had been no contact between the pair since Mitchell’s controversial interview on September 4, in which some of his comments about recruitment were not well received inside the club.
The head coach did confirm he’d had a conversation with a senior board member this week – chief executive Darren Eales has been spotted at the training ground – and Howe has called for unity to help results on the pitch.
‘I think the club is unified, I don’t see any issues,’ he said. ‘It depends where you’re talking about that unification, but the unification between me, the players, the supporters and the board is really strong.’
Howe was asked if he’d spoken to Mitchell this week.
Eddie Howe denied there are ‘issues’ at Newcastle despite lingering tension behind the scenes
The club’s sporting director Paul Mitchell was critical of Newcastle’s transfer strategy in a recent interview, but Howe defended the club’s policy last week
‘I’m not going to go there,’ he said. ‘I’m not going go in to every week in terms of our contact. But collaboration, as I said last week, is what we’re looking to do to take the club forward.’
He added: ‘Just so people know, I’ve had conversations with senior members of the board this week. So I’m in regular communication with them, trying to collaborate and work together for the benefit of the club. That’s always in my heart and that will always be while I’m manager of the club.’
Howe said last week that he was happy when working with his players, and he reiterated: ‘I’m really happy, as I’ve said many, many times. I’m enjoying the work with the players. I love the group that we have. I really do enjoy coming into work to plan training and to execute training with them. I think we are on a journey together. I hope that journey can stay.’
Howe says his focus has to be on affecting what he can, especially given an unbeaten start that leaves them two points behind leaders Manchester City, who play Arsenal on Sunday.
‘I’m always the first one to say that the players are the most important people,’ he said. ‘For me, my direct work is always about the players and trying to get them in the best frame of mind to win matches. The tighter the group, the more we come together, the better for everybody.
‘I include the supporters in that, because they can directly affect the players on the pitch. So creating the best environment, the whole club united on that front, is basically all we need to get results.
Alexander Isak could miss Saturday’s trip to Fulham due to a toe injury suffered this week
‘Now the other stuff is hugely important, boardroom level and behind the scenes. But that’s more for the transfer windows and those kind of things. At the moment, we can’t affect that. So let’s come together, and I think the players really have. We’ve got a really good team spirit, a tight group. Now, it’s about getting us to consistently play well.’
Newcastle will make a late call on the fitness of Alexander Isak for the trip to Craven Cottage after Howe confirmed the striker is struggling with a toe injury, as revealed by Mail Sport this week.