Howe 'deserves another go' - Anderson

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Former Newcastle defender John Anderson believes no other manager could have done a better job than Eddie Howe since he joined the club and "deserves another go" beyond the end of this season, despite the club being 14th in the Premier League with six games to go.

It is unlikely that Newcastle will return to Champions League action next season and qualifying for any European competition will be a challenge.

Anderson, speaking on BBC Radio Newcastle, said: "There's six games of the season left. We said before the Crystal Palace game that they were a big seven games for the manager. And these are a big six games.

"Nothing will be done between now and the end of the season. They'll sit down, they'll review the whole season, the way things have gone and then make a decision on what they're going to do.

"I've said many a time on here in the four and a bit years that Eddie Howe has been here, I don't care who the manager would have been, all these named managers and great managers, do I think any of them could have come in and done a better job than what Eddie Howe has done in the time he's been here? No, I don't think so.

"But managers are judged on recent results, not on what they've done in the past."

He added: "I've seen a lot of stuff and spoken to people who think Eddie Howe has done as well as he can do and taken us as far as he can go. We've heard it so many times about different managers.

"I think he deserves another go at it, I really do. But that's my opinion and people are entitled to their opinion. But I think this summer is absolutely massive because I think a refresh is needed. I think it has all gone a little bit stale."

Listen to the full discussion on BBC Sounds or by clicking the play button below, and find more Newcastle United content on BBC Sounds.