Howe: ‘Regardless of the transfer window – I always believed Newcastle could stay in the division’

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has insisted that he was always confident that the Magpies would stay in the Premier League this season.

They were five points adrift of safety when Howe took over from Steve Bruce last November.

The Magpies have enjoyed a great end to the season as they are now mathematically safe. They have become the first team in Premier League history to stay up after winning none of its first 14 games.

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Asked if, despite his calm exterior, he had ever doubted they would do so, head coach Howe said with a smile: “You don’t see what goes on behind the scenes.”

He added: “I was always very calm – that’s my personality. If there’s a problem, then I’ll try to go away and fix it and work to find solutions, not really panicking or reacting adversely.

“I’m very much a thinker, so I was very calm and I always believed. I always believed in the players – and that was regardless of the transfer window – I always believed that we could stay in the division.

“I said that many times and I don’t say it if I don’t believe it. I believe you can do special things on the training ground with players, you can improve players to a