Eddie Howe has named one Tottenham Hotspur player who Newcastle United need to be very wary of on Saturday.
The Magpies welcome Tottenham Hotspur to St James’ Park this weekend, hoping for a better performance than the one they produced in the reverse fixture. Newcastle were extremely poor that day, losing 4-1 in North London as the games began to catch up with Eddie Howe’s side.
On that day, Son Heung-min and Richarlison tore Newcastle apart. Son gave Kieran Trippier the run around, while Richarlison scored two goals which led to Spurs’ social media team mocking Callum Wilson after comments the Newcastle number nine had previously made.
But for all of Tottenham’s brilliance that day, they were still without one of their major attacking outlets due to injury. However, he is going to be fit for the game at St James’ Park.
Eddie Howe wary of ‘outstanding’ Tottenham Hotspur player
Eddie Howe has been speaking to the media ahead of Newcastle’s game against Tottenham Hotspur.
He was asked about Spurs star James Maddison, and if he had ever came close to signing the 27-year-old for Newcastle United.
“I don’t think he was ever close in the literal sense of coming here,” he said.
“But he’s a player that I’ve admired for many, many years. I think he’s outstanding. I watched him play for Coventry many years ago and liked him straight away.
“No, he’s never came close to signing for me. Regardless of that, I think he is an outstanding talent and this year he has really excelled in Ange’s style. He is certainly a player we are going to have to keep quiet.”
Newcastle were linked with signing James Maddison before Tottenham move
Howe is adamant that Newcastle were never close to signing Maddison, despite the Magpies being interested in bringing him to the club last summer.
Newcastle and Tottenham went head to head in the race to secure Maddison’s signature, and it was quite the battle. There were plenty of contrasting stories in the media, but it ended with the England international joining Spurs for £40million.
The Magpies missed out, opting to go for Sandro Tonali instead. Given the ban he received soon after, that looks like a mistake.
But wages were seemingly the reason that Maddison did not move to Tyneside. It was claimed that he was very keen on the move, but Newcastle were unable to match what Spurs were offering.
That led to Maddison moving to North London, where he has been outstanding. Now he is heading to Newcastle to play against Howe’s side for the first time since missing out a move that looked destined to happen last year.
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