Howe committed to Newcastle amid England links
Eddie Howe has insisted he remains "committed" to Newcastle United amid links to the vacant England head coach position.
Gareth Southgate, who led England to back-to-back European championship finals, resigned last week after the Three Lions' defeat to Spain in Germany.
Howe is among several names linked with the role alongside Graham Potter, Lee Carsley and a potentially ambitious swoop for Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola. Sarina Wiegman, who coached England's women to European championship success in 2022, has also been mentioned.
Newcastle chief executive Darren Eales has already expressed his desire for Howe to remain at St. James' Park, having led the Magpies to UEFA Champions League football during the 2022-2023 Premier League season.
"It is an unbelievable football club. I’m very, very proud to be the manager," Howe told BBC Radio Newcastle at the club's pre-season training camp in Germany.
"I love the supporters, I love the players, I love the staff. So really, there has been no thought in my mind on anything else and I have been very committed to the job here.
"For me, as long as I am happy and feel supported and feel free to do the work that I love to do at Newcastle, I’ll be very happy, and I am very happy."
While Howe did not definitively rule out leaving Newcastle to become England's manager, he admitted he did not feel a big draw to the position.
"I think England is a very special job for someone," he added. "I am very patriotic, and I'm not ashamed to say that.
"I love my country. I want my country to do well. I was gutted for Gareth and the lads that they did not win the Euros.
"But I don't have that job like a burning sensation in me that I have to do it at some stage. If it happens at some stage in the future, then it's to be for me.
"If not, then I'm very, very happy in the current role that I'm doing. The day-to-day management.
"I had this situation a lot at Bournemouth in my second spell, but I was very, very happy, in my environment, in my day-to-day workings. So, I had no desire to leave.
"For me, that's always been my key driver: my happiness and my ability to do my job."
Howe replaced Steve Bruce at Newcastle in November 2021, guiding the club to an 11th place finish in the league, with the Magpies becoming the first team in Premier League history to avoid relegation after not winning any of the first 14 games.
The next season saw Howe guide the club to its first cup final in 23 years before going on to secure UEFA Champions League football for the first time since 2003.
Howe signed what Eales described as a "multi-year" contract extension last summer before Newcastle finished seventh in the Premier League, failing to secure European football after Manchester United's success in the FA Cup.
Newcastle will kickstart its pre-season preparations with a fixture against EFL Championship side Hull City next weekend ahead of hosting newly promoted Southampton on the first day of the new season.
"Of course that is my expectation because I am the manager of Newcastle and I am very proud to be," Howe said on if he expects to be in charge against the Saints.
"But as I said, it is all about the environment I am working in. As long as that is one where I feel I can give my best, then absolutely, we will crack on and I am looking forward to next season."
England is next in action in September when it faces Republic of Ireland in the UEFA Nations League.
An interim manager will be in charge if the Football Association fails to appoint Southgate's successor before that time.
"I’m absolutely honoured and privileged to be manager of Newcastle United. I hope that is for many, many years," Howe added.
"My commitment is unwavering. I am determined to win a trophy for the football club. That is in my psyche every day. I want to see joy in the supporters. I want to bring that to them, hopefully."
![Edward John Frank Howe](https://prod-media.beinsports.com/image/7vn2i2kd35zuetw6b38gw9jsz.3840.png?ver=28-06-2024)