by Eddie Howe has admitted that the emotional roller coaster ride, in which he took part in the past few weeks, appreciated what he had.
The 47-year-old became Tyneside toast when he led the magpies to her first home cutlery for 70 years last month, and was celebrated with his players during his return to northeast during a triumphal parade.
Within a few weeks, however, he was in a hospital bed, which fought through a pulmonary inflammation that kept him away from work until Thursday when he picked up the reins again to prepare for the Premier League on Saturday with Ipswich in St. James’ Park.
After a 3-0 win that sent the club back into the top three, Howe said: “It was very emotional weeks for me, I have to say. I went from ups and downs.
“They look at things differently and appreciate everything much more, so I appreciate being here today. I appreciate everything that has to do with Newcastle. I appreciate the support I had, and in a way it made me very emotionally.
“But if it is business time, if it is time, they appear and we have to do our job and try to win.”
Howe does not yet have to fully recover from his illness, but was determined to return as soon as he felt able to take up where he had stopped.
He said: “I think it is my duty. However, I have to be able to perform, so I would only come back if I could give the players what they need, and they could see me and see me as myself, not as a pale imitation, so I felt that I was strong enough this week to do that.
“Then I have the feeling that it is my duty, so I have to be here as soon as possible as long as I can do what I have to do.”
He and his players did just that on Saturday, when they fought through a difficult first half to create a lead by Alexander Isak’s late penalty, a helping hand from Ben Johnson’s 37th minute to score a second bookable criminal offense before goals from Dan Burn and replacement against the replacement goal of the work.
Newcastle led the pack realistically around the three remaining Champions League places behind the Top Two Liverpool and Arsenal with four remaining games, but with Brighton, Chelsea, the Gunners and Everners Come, know that the edges are tight.
Howe said: “We can’t afford mistakes now. So let’s concentrate on the next game.”
The defeat against Tyneside consolidated the descent against Ipswich, but Kieran McKenna’s players were warmly welcomed by traveling fans in the last pipe.
McKenna said: “We fell for a moment, but I think you know that everyone gave everything, and you also know that the trip was incredible and that this is now a step back.
“But if we glue together and do the right things, it can still be a good springboard to push again, so we really appreciate it.”
