Eddie Howe has no interest in succeeding Gareth Southgate as England manager, with a move into the international game not appealing at this moment in my life .
Three Lions boss Southgate has been hugely successful since his appointment in 2016, leading his team to the World Cup semi-finals, Nations League Finals and Euro 2020 final, but he heads into Qatar 2022 under pressure.
England are winless in six – their worst such sequence since 1993 and worst ever heading into a major tournament – and there have been calls for Southgate to move on.
As one of the leading English coaches in the Premier League, Newcastle United s Howe would appear an obvious candidate to replace him.
However, while praising Southgate, Howe said the England role was not one he would be interested in in the short term , with his focus on Newcastle.
I think Gareth s done an incredible job, I really do, Howe said on Friday. I mean that from the bottom of my heart.
I ve been lucky enough to go in and see him work, I ve spent time with him. I ve got a lot of time for him and for Steve Holland and his team there.
I think they ve been amazing for England. I think you have to remember where England [were] when he took over and what he s done for the country.
I never say never, I never say, no, it s not something I d be interested in . But certainly not in the short term. It s not on my radar at all. It s all Newcastle and investing and trying to make this team the best I can.
Explaining why that might be, Howe added: I ve always said I love the day-to-day coaching. I love being with my players on the training ground.
In international football, you get that taken away for long periods. At this moment in my life, that s not something I want to do.
1995 England have conceded at least three goals in consecutive home games for the first time since June 1995 (vs Sweden and Brazil). Meanwhile, tonight s draw was their highest scoring game that was goalless at half-time since October 2008 (5-1 vs Kazakhstan). Leaky.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe)
Howe still had an interest in England s Nations League matches against Italy and Germany, with Nick Pope starting in goal and Newcastle team-mate Kieran Trippier on Southgate s bench.
Pope, deputising for Jordan Pickford, made an awful error in the Germany game that gifted the visitors an equaliser at Wembley after England had recovered from two goals down to lead 3-2.
[Pope] is in a good place, Howe said ahead of Saturday s game at Fulham. He s aware how special those games are for him in his career.
From where he s come from, to experience those moments is brilliant. But he s earned the right to get to the position in his career that he s at.
Howe described himself as very proud of Pope and backed his goalkeeper to recover.
You need to be able to deal with mistakes. It s part of the job when you re in that position, the Newcastle coach added.
Nick is a very calm, level-headed guy. He s incredibly focused. I ve got no problem with him returning; I know he ll carry on where he left off for us.
