Eddie Howe flattered by Sir Alex Ferguson comparisons from Newcastle owners

NEWCASTLE: Eddie Howe admits he’s flattered to be mentioned in the same breath as Sir Alex Ferguson by Newcastle United’s owners — although he’s not getting carried away by the early comparisons.

Co-owner Mehrdad Ghodoussi recently claimed in an interview with the Athletic that he wanted Howe to emulate the Manchester United legend at St. James’ Park and build a Premier League dynasty on Tyneside.

And while Howe has welcomed the backing from PCP Capital Partners’ Ghodoussi, he’s also keen to not look too far into the future, especially with the Magpies’ immediate focus on remaining in the top flight.

“I am taking it the opposite way — it is very small steps,” he said of Ghodoussi’s words. “The focus has to be on getting enough points to stay in the division. I am not looking at anything beyond that. That doesn’t mean I am not looking to the future of this football club.”

“I appreciate the words but it is about the next game for me.”

A win against Brighton & Hove Albion would go some way to underlining their relegation fight credentials.

Three points has the potential to take Newcastle seven points clear of the dropzone, depending on results elsewhere.

It would also improve their unbeaten run to eight games, a sequence that stretches all the way back to their last defeat — by Manchester City — on Dec. 19.

And while the gloom has lifted at Newcastle recently, replaced by Howe-driven hope and belief, the head coach knows his side are definitely not out of the woods just yet.

“The relegation picture will go right to the wire,” said Howe. “We don’t want to be involved in that but our next run of games will dictate what happens to us.”

“We have to remain very focussed and not get carried away with our successes,”