‘I wasn’t contacted about the England job,’ admits Eddie Howe as he gives verdict on Thomas Tuchel appointment

EDDIE HOWE is not angry about being overlooked by the FA for the England job and believes Thomas Tuchel was the “best” foreign candidate available.

SunSport revealed there was no contact with Howe, 46, as the FA spoke to 10 different managers.

The Newcastle boss was touted as one of the favourites to take charge of the Three Lions until the FA named the German as their new boss.

The decision has been met with mixed reaction, but when asked on what his thoughts are about Tuchel, Howe revealed: “Firstly, speaking about Thomas himself, I’ve got a relationship with him and was lucky and fortunate enough to go and see him work at Chelsea when I was out of work.

“What a brilliant guy, great person, great coach. I had two days with him and thought that he was fascinating and I really enjoyed his company.

“I really wish him well and think that he’s a great appointment. I hope that he leads England to many trophies.

“I have always said, and I’ve been very clear on this going back years and years, my preference would have been for an English coach but if you are going to go foreign then go for the best and I certainly think Thomas is that.”

The FA claimed to have interviewed ten candidates, but the Toon chief says he was not one of them and there had been “no contact” from the FA.

Howe was the choice of many to lead the Three Lions into the World Cup, and when asked if he was angry that he had not even been approached for talks, Howe replied: “Absolutely not.

“The FA have to do what is right for them and only they know the processes and decisions that they have made.

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“I’m not the type of person to analyse that and my focus is on Newcastle and trying to win games.

“That’s hard enough to do being 100 per cent focused and I’ll always remain that way to my work but know if you drop your levels then your job becomes impossible. I’ve never allowed myself to do that.”

Howe is perceived by many to be a future England manager, but does he feel that too?

“I don’t visualise that,” he insisted. “I just think about Newcastle and trying to lift a trophy here would be my goal and I’m immersing myself in what I’m in currently. So no other thoughts have entered my head.

“So I don’t take on that feeling and just try to do the best I can.”

Howe has faced constant questions about the England job, despite stating from the off that he wanted to stay at St James’, and admits there is some relief that the chase for Gareth Southgate’s replacement is over.

He said: “There was no-one more pleased than me to see Thomas get the job, really, and take it because it’s just a distraction – not that it distracts me, but you can see it’s unsettling at times when certain things are said and written about.

“The more that everyone can focus on Newcastle – which has always been my only concern – the better.”

Howe focused on Newcastle

Even though it appears FA chiefs overlooked him this time, is it a job that interests him in the future?

“Who knows,” responded Howe. “I’ve always said that you can never predict what’s going to happen in management, you can never plan too far ahead. I certainly don’t.

“I’m a day-to-day planner, while certainly acknowledging that Newcastle – I’ve always said this – has a future and we have to make sure we make the right decisions long-term.

 “But the job takes so many twists and turns, you can’t look too far ahead. I think that’s negative, actually, if you do that, so in terms of my own career and what’s five, 10 years ahead, I don’t know, I’ve got no idea.

“But I’d never say that managing England isn’t something I’d like to do maybe one day if given the opportunity, but my focus is Newcastle, Newcastle, Newcastle.”

Howe was then asked directly if he would have spoken to the FA if they had knocked on his door, to which he replied: ‘Hypothetical questions are very dangerous to answer.

England still the pinnacle

“Listen, I will talk to anyone who knocks on my front door… but not in the respect of entering conversations about leaving Newcastle.”

Everton boss Sean Dyche has stated that the England job is perhaps no longer the pinnacle for English coaches.

But Howe feels differently, saying: “I think if you are looking to get into international football and you have got that passion for international football then absolutely yes.

“It just depends on your viewpoint. If you look domestically and you love the day-to-day aspect of the job then obviously you’ll have a different answer.

“For me, as a kid I loved World Cups, European Championships, I was obsessed with England trying to win something and I really do hope that Thomas can do that for the country.”

And Howe, whose side face Brighton on Saturday in the Premier League, refused to be drawn on the credentials of other English coaches that were overlooked, saying: “Yes, of course there were candidates. But I’m not going to critique the FA’s decision. The decision is down to them.

“They know a lot more than I do. They will have all the information. I don’t think it’s for me to judge that decision.

“But there are people out there who I think are very, very good who are English and they’re available. I’m sure the FA did their work on that and they’ve come to their decision.”