Eddie Howe defends Newcastle transfer record but insists there is no 'civil war' at club

Magpies manager responds to last week's criticism of recruitment policy by sporting director Paul Mitchell

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has seen his side take seven points from a possible nine in the Premier League this season. Reuters

Eddie Howe has insisted there is no “civil war” at Newcastle United despite the club's transfer policy in recent seasons being publicly criticised by new sporting director Paul Mitchell last week.

But the Magpies manager also strongly defended his recruitment record maintaining that he is “very proud” of the players that have been brought in since he took over as manager.

Mitchell replaced Manchester United-bound Dan Ashworth in the summer and his first transfer window in the role has seen Newcastle forced to sell two its young players – Elliot Anderson and Yankuba Minteh – to avoid falling foul of the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).

There has also been no major strengthening of the squad with attempts to bring in Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi and Nottingham Forest winger Anthony Elanga both ending in failure.

In a media briefing last week, Mitchell described Newcastle's scouting network as not being “fit for purpose” and that there “hasn't been a clear strategy over the last five years” at the club.

The criticism has sparked rumours of a civil war at the Premier League club and in his press conference ahead of Sunday's game with Wolves at Molineux, Howe was asked if he had spoken to Mitchell since the interview.

“I've had no contact from Paul but I don't think that's unusual. We’ve got different jobs to do. I’m focusing on the football and the team, and he’s obviously focusing on his role.

“The civil war stuff, absolutely not, in my experience. But I am cocooned in my work and absolutely focused on the players and the training, and I know you might be bored of that answer but it is what I do every single day that I am here.”

Since taking over at St James' Park, Howe has been heavily involved in the club's recruitment process which saw likes of Kieran Trippier, Dan Burn and Bruno Guimaraes arrive in the first transfer window after the Saudi Arabia-backed consortium bought out previous owner Mike Ashley in October 2021.

The signings helped drag Newcastle away from the threat of relegation and over the next two seasons the team was further strengthened by the arrivals of Sven Botman, Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon as Howe guided the team to fourth and seventh place finishes.

And the former Bournemouth coach made clear on Friday that everyone involved in making those signings “can hold their heads up very high” about what was achieved.

Newcastle v Spurs player ratings

NEWCASTLE RATINGS: Two decent, if regulation, saves from Sarr in first half during which his distribution annoyed home fans. Should have done better when he pushed Maddison shot straight to Brennan ahead of Burn own goal. Getty Images

Right-back, who is keeping Kieran Trippier out of the team, is a fan favourite but has not had the most convincing starts to season, looking frail defensively and producing less of the galloping runs forward of last campaign. Getty Images

Continues at centre-half in place of suspended Fabian Scar and has let no one down over the three games the Swiss defender has missed. Threw himself into tackles and blocks as Newcastle came under fierce second-half pressure. Reuters

Excellent again, bar two lapses. Scored own-goal when he tried to clear ball over bar but booted ball into own net. Gifted one dreadful pass straight to Odobert and was relieved chance came to nothing. Getty Images

Picked up needless booking for foul on Son but made amends not long after with superb cross for Barnes’ goal. Struggled to deal with wing play of Spurs substitute Brennan and no shock when replaced with yellow card hanging over him. EPA

Booked for sliding tackle from behind on Udogie. Rescued by crossbar when he deflected Porro cross towards own goal. Usual non-stop running but Newcastle’s midfield in general not at best. Reuters

Booked for reckless foul on Maddison with Spurs man dealing out revenge not long after. Nearly scored Newcastle’s second own goal but managed to turn cross out for corner. Driving force for teammates and fans but no sign of trademark killer final ball. Getty Images

Beaten by quick feet of Dragusin and book for foul on that followed on Romanian. Beautiful turn and through ball to Murphy who went on to set up Isak for second goal. Reuters

Flashed curling right-footed effort just wide of post in opening 10 minutes. Wonderful first-time finish to put side 1-0 up, fully justifying his recall to team with moment of real quality. Getty Images

Like Guimaraes, not producing the form he has shown previously in terms of attacking threat, after being touted around other clubs by Magpies in summer, but his relentless work-rate has not changed. Getty Images

Clipped bar with dinked shot towards back post in first half. Tapped home Murphy cross to score first goal of season and earn Newcastle all three points in second. Getty Images

SUBSTITUTES: (On for Barnes 61’) Had chance to put Newcastle back in front but shot to near post was saved by Vicario. Unselfish ball across six-yard box to give Isak open goal for winner. EPA

(On for Longstaff 68’) Given rapturous reception in first Premier League appearance since 10-month suspension and the Italian will be key player for Newcastle this season. Getty Images

(On for Kelly 68’) Like man he replaced, left-back found Brennan a handful. PA

(On for Gordon 90+4’) Getty Images)

TOTTENHAM RATINGS: No chance with superb Barnes finish in first half or Isak tap in after break. A few unconvincing punches on crosses from Italian but was spectator for much of second bar one save at near post from Murphy. PA

Picked out Romero with one whipped-in free kick who headed home but centre-half was offside. Saw another cross hit crossbar after wicked deflection. EPA

In for the injured Micky Van de Ven and showed real pace when he tracked back and made vital tackles on Barnes in first half and Isak in second when both would have been in on goal. PA

Headed home in 12th minute but had strayed way offside. Fine performance alongside unfamiliar centre-back partner Dragusin. Getty Images

Some marauding runs forward from Italian defender who found himself in some unusual attacking positions for a left-back. AFP

Cracking goal last week but not hint of repeat here as his focus returned to defensive duties in front of the back four which he did well. Obvious booking for hauling back Barnes. PA

Two strikes in matter of minutes in first half that forced Pope into decent saves. Booked for late tackle on Kelly. Taken off at break. AFP

Incurred wrath of home fans by rolling around on ground following Burn challenge. Had shot saved by Pope that ended with Burn own goal and saw curling effort saved by Magpies keeper. Booked for revenge foul on Guimaraes. Getty Images

Teenage attacker drilled shot wide of near post when should have at least troubled Pope then missed a chance at back post after break. Caused Newcastle problems throughout, though. Getty Images

Quiet first half but at heart of Spurs second-half dominance. Away team peppered the Newcastle goal with match shot count finishing 20-9 in Spurs’ favour. PA

Dispossessed by Isak early while on defensive duties leading to Swedish attacker, then hitting crossbar. Spurs could have done with one of the second-half chances falling at their captain’s feet. AFP

SUBSTITUTES: (On for Sarr 46’) Revelation after coming on, causing Newcastle’s defence constant problems with flying runs down right and dangerous crosses into box. Reacted quickly to turn Pope save across goal that Burn booted into own net. Missed chance of his own. Reuters

(On for Odobert 74’) No impact from German attacker. Getty Images

(On for Maddison 82’) Booked within two minutes of coming on for foul on Gordon. PA

(On for Bissmouma 82’) Reuters

“I'm very, very proud of every single player that we signed in that period,” said Howe, whose nephew Andy Howe is part of the Magpies' scouting team. “It is very easy to look back at any transfer window and make a judgment on the players you have signed three years down the line.

“But you have to go back to the situation when we were in those moments, in the relegation zone and trying to recruit players. That is not an easy thing to do.

“You're also recruiting not just for the short term, but for the long term. When you look back, that work was good. Our objective was to stay in the league, so I'm not going to critique every signing, but I'm very, very proud of the body of work that we did and the players that we have now from the legacy of those transfer windows.

“We love them to bits, so I think it's about when you're in that moment and the decisions that you made. I think everyone can hold their heads up very high.”

On the pitch, Newcastle are unbeaten having taken seven points from three matches despite failing to dominate in any of the games. “Performance wise, we haven’t hit top gear,” admitted Howe.

“We have done well in different passages of each game but not consistently throughout the 90 minutes, that's what we're looking to do … because we are going into a spell where we are playing away from home now, some difficult games.”

Midfielder Sandor Tonali played twice for Italy in Nations league matches during the international break in his first appearances for his country since his 10-month ban for breaching betting rules. Tonali is line for starting place at Wolves but striker Callum Wilson's recovery from a back injury is taking longer than expected.

“I was pleased to see [Tonali][ play. He has performed well, those games would have done him the world of good,” Howe said.

“It's the first few steps for him, we are delighted he is available for us. Sandro has that flair and ability to make the difference. He is a player we absolutely love.

“Callum is a little bit behind where we want him to be. We envisaged he might be training for the games coming up, but he isn't there yet.”