Eddie Howe delivers exciting Steven Gerrard verdict ahead of Newcastle United v Aston Villa

Eddie Howe believes that Steven Gerrard and ‘achieve whatever he wants to’ in football after making a seamless transition from playing to management.

Gerrard has made a promising start to his time in charge of Aston Villa, after tasting success at the helm of Rangers north of the border. A decorated player in his days representing Liverpool, Gerrard is one of a number of young English managers who are making their way in the managerial game.

Indeed old England teammate Frank Lampard has just assumed control of Everton, a side who Newcastle United boss Howe successfully plotted the downfall of in the week.

Gerrard and Villa are next on his list, but before they cross swords at St James’s Park on Sunday Howe complimented the start to life in management that Gerrard has produced and he believes that the 41-year-old possesses the qualities needed to go to the next level.

“I fully respect Frank and Steven. They’re top managers in their own right. Looking at Steven individually, I think he has all of the credentials required to go and manage at the very highest level and achieve whatever he wants to in the game,” Howe said at his pre-match press conference.

“He’s done a great job already at Rangers. He’s come into Aston Villa and made a big impact in a short period of time. He’s not somebody I’ve come up against yet, in terms of playing against his teams.

“From afar I’ve watched his work, and I’ve been very impressed.”

Villa rather threw a couple of points away in the week against Leeds United, having been two goals ahead at one stage in the first half. In the end, with eight minutes added on and Ezri Konsa sent off, it was perhaps a point that Villa would’ve taken, but Howe recognises the changes in Villa’s game that