Howe believes Newcastle's 'stability' from above was key to Champions League push

Eddie Howe has praised Newcastle United owners for creating 'rare' stability as they bid for Champions League qualification.

The Magpies entertain Tottenham on Sunday in a top-four shootout, with the north London club without a manager and dealing with the fallout from the resignation of chief executive of football Fabio Paratici.

Spurs' last visit to Tyneside, a 3-2 victory on October 17, 2021, was the first game after Amanda Staveley's Saudi-backed consortium took control of St James' Park, and a lot has changed in the 18 months since. .

Head Coach Howe said: "I would say we've been stable and led very well from the top. There's been clarity on what we can and can't do. There's been a vision.

"The hardest part is trying to achieve all of this on a day-to-day basis, but this stability and confidence have allowed us to succeed.

"It's rare to have this stability at a Premier League club because the pressure you work under is so high. Hopefully it can last as long as possible."

Howe's men will head into the final round after slipping to fourth following last Saturday's 3-0 loss at Aston Villa and Manchester United's 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest the next day.

However, three points against Spurs would put them six points ahead of their nearest rivals and after playing one game less, a far cry from the relegation battle they were engaged in when Howe arrived a month later the beginning of the mandate of the new regime.< /p>

He said: "Sometimes for a split second it's good to look back on those changes and be proud of where we've come from and how fast we've traveled - but that's just a fraction of a second because you always have to be on what's in front of you, and it's an opportunity to achieve something really special.”

Howe, who will again be without striker Allan Saint-Maximin, who is due to return to the training ground early next week after recovering from a hamstring injury in his native France , has carefully avoided talk of European qualification all season, and is in no mood to start as the critical point approaches.

However, he is confident his players will recover from a dismal day at Villa Park to handle the pressure of what is happening.

He said: "All season I've seen a group that's been very strong mentally, that's been tested in all sorts of different ways. We've had a lot of different experiences - the cup race [ Carabao], Premier League form, major league games - and they responded well.

"I don't see any signs that the team isn't coping. We have a lot of experience in the squad to lead the team at key times. I think we're equipped. I think we have what we need, we just have to show it on the pitch."

READ MORE: Captain and keeper among five Man Utd careers ended by Sevilla surrender