It’s just about one more game and one more final push

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Former Burnley manager will make his first visit to Turf Moor as Newcastle United manager having replaced Steve Bruce in November last year.

It’s the final game of the season and his team have long been safe from relegation but it is to no last day of the season stroll for his team. “I have to be absolutely clinical in my approach to the game,” he said. “We are here to win the game for Newcastle and we are determined to do that. We will prepare as best we can. We are determined to have a performance very similar to Arsenal in terms of mentality and attitude towards the game so the only thoughts I have are for Newcastle and not for Burnley.”

Embed from Getty ImagesIf fit, former Claret Chris Wood will play and Howe was asked if his striker would celebrate should he score a third goal for his new club. Howe said of that: “I don’t know how Chris will approach that moment if it happens, that’s for him to decide individually.

“Knowing Chris and speaking to him, he’s very respectful for Burnley. He had a brilliant time there and he’s a very, very good professional so his thoughts again will be for Newcastle, the team he’s playing for now, but very respectful for the team that he left.”

Two years ago, Howe was involved in a last day relegation situation with Bournemouth, but has he ever been involved in such a game when it was the opposition who needed the result? “Off the top of my head I can’t recall any,” he said. “I’ve been involved in plenty of games and had plenty of experiences where for either team there’s huge consequences.

“I think from our perspective, I think we showed on Monday that we’re not dipping in terms of our attitude and our professionalism. I thought we approached that game against Arsenal in an excellent way and that’s what I’m looking for. I’m looking for a performance and I know we are going to have to start the game well because the atmosphere is going to be intense so that can’t come as a surprise to us. We have to give our best.

“The incentive for us has got nothing to do with Burnley, the incentive for us is with our own objectives and targets. That’s the only way I work. I respect our opposition, I respect Burnley as a football club and I know the position that they’re in, but we have a job to do. We represent Newcastle and we are proud to do that and we will give our best.”

Embed from Getty ImagesMichael Jackson brings us home after two away games have secured us the one point we gained from the 1-1 draw at Aston Villa. Of that game at Villa, he said: “When I look back at the game, it’s a masterclass in defending from us and in working as a group. Some of the performances within that were top drawer in terms of what we needed and what we had to do.

“Their threats were getting in behind (in the game at Turf Moor), but they changed the system as well, so it was one of those games which was difficult to manage. Part of you thinks that you need more pressure at the top of the pitch, but the big picture is about what the game is and what’s at stake.”

With that game drawn, attention turns to Newcastle. Jackson continued: “Every game we’ve had has been called a must, but the lads have been delivering and their performances have been strong. They’ve had that around them now for the last six or seven games, so they’re used to living in that, it’ll stand them in good stead.

“We have to try to take the emotion out of it and go and attack the moment again. We’re just looking forward to Sunday now. It’s just about one more game and one more final push to achieve what we want to do.”

He is aware of the threat from Newcastle. “They’re doing great,” he said. “I watched their game against Arsenal and with the crowd behind them, they looked brilliant. With the way they went about their work and how they have a clear way that they want to play, Eddie Howe’s done a really good job there.”

The interim manager has spoken about the players so often since he stepped into Sean Dyche’s role and how they self motivate themselves and asked where that motivation comes from, he was quick to say: “The group themselves. It’s about them, what they’ve done and what they’re capable of. I didn’t give them enough credit again after the game last night (at Villa). They deserved a lot more praise from me than what they got.

“Motivation comes from within, everyone’s all in for us. Vyds and Ash (Matěj Vydra and Ashley Westwood) have been in again today (Friday) supporting the lads.”

Supporting them tomorrow will be the Burnley fans in all four stands. “We’re going to need them and the atmosphere they can create on Sunday,” he said. “You saw them in the away ends at Spurs and Villa, they can make a massive difference. Honestly, they drive the group on.”

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