sport news With Eddie Howe at the helm Newcastle have been transformed from a comedy club ... trends now
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Yesterday at a quarter past six in the morning, a group of Newcastle fans were waiting for Eddie Howe at the gates of the training ground.
A few hours earlier, at a comedy club in the city centre, a sold-out season preview event featuring journalists and supporters was pushing back the boundaries of last orders.
Optimism and enthusiasm for Howe and his team are pulsing through Tyneside 24/7 right now. Until recently, the comedy club was Newcastle United.
It says much for the esteem in which fans hold Howe that, during the True Faith live show on Thursday evening, some expressed concern that England will come calling for their head coach before the season is out.
Eddie Howe has inked a new long-term deal to remain in charge at St James' Park
'I couldn't be happier here,' said Howe when told of such worry yesterday, just a couple of hours before it was announced he had signed a new, long-term contract. 'I am loving the challenge. I have everything in place I feel I need to be successful.
'Having a pre-season has been brilliant. I've been able to go into detail with the players on how I want us to play. I've been able to build stronger relationships. I feel a lot more settled. I'm in a house now and my family will be with me in a few weeks. I certainly feel in a good place.'
The aim for this season, then?
'We'd love a trophy — I have to dream big on behalf of the club. The challenge is to maintain the form we showed in the second part of last season. But we are in a
