We're all loving the new Toon ... take a bow, Eddie

LET’S be honest, most people like me thought Eddie Howe would be a temporary appointment at Newcastle United.

- ROBBIE FOWLER

That’s until the new owners, with all their riches and the potential new power that brings, were able to attract a managerial big hitter.

Well, this week, he celebrates his first year in charge having transformed them – there is no way now he can be considered a stop-gap acquisition.

Whether it was too big a club for him after moving from Bournemouth wasn’t the real issue – it was would he be given enough time?

I would be amazed too that deep down the owners weren’t thinking that he was just keeping the seat warm for an eventual eye-catching arrival.

Now the feeling is he will be on Tyneside for the long run.

He deserves that because it’s not just the new signings that have made a difference. In a relatively short time he has had other players he inherited punching way above their weight.

Yes, there has been the odd big-money signing like Bruno Guimaraes, but look at some of the other lads like Joelinton.

At best, and if you were being kind you could have called him a bit-part player up front. All of a sudden he’s a formidable midfield player who has made a huge difference.