Callum Wilson and Michail Antonio agree on 'unbelievable' Eddie Howe Newcastle achievement

Newcastle United striker Callum Wilson and West Ham forward Michail Antonio both agree that Eddie Howe should have been named LMA Manager of the Year. That accolade went to Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, whose team finished second in the Premier League - one point behind Manchester City - and lifted both the FA Cup and Carabao Cup.

The Anfield outfit have also reached the Champions League final, which they will contest against Real Madrid this weekend. In their Footballer's Football Podcast, though, Wilson and Antonio both reached a consensus that Howe would have been the worthiest winner.

The Amersham-born, 44-year-old assumed the reins at St James' Park in November with the Magpies win-less in their opening 11 Premier League games and sat 19th on five points. Another three matches passed under Howe without a victory before the team finally managed to collect maximum points in a 1-0 home triumph against Burnley during the first weekend in December.

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No team in Premier League history had previously managed to stay up after failing to win their first 14 fixtures, but Howe's Newcastle went on to canter to safety, finishing the season 11th and on 49 points. That represented their best top-tier haul in 10 years, with only runaway top-two Manchester City and Liverpool accumulating more points during 2022.

England international Wilson, who also played under Howe for six years at Bournemouth, scored the goal that secured that vital first win against Burnley. Following a calf injury that sidelined him for more than four months, the 30-year-old forward then returned to the fold in May and bagged a brace to send Burnley down during a 2-1 final-day