Eddie Howe has refused to be drawn on Jack Grealish's disparaging remark about Miguel Almiron - but the Newcastle United head coach confirmed his side are 'highly motivated' for the visit of Man City.
Grealish quipped that one of the 'secrets' behind City's title-winning comeback against Aston Villa on the final day of last season was manager Pep Guardiola taking off Riyad Mahrez 'as soon as possible' because the Algeria international 'played like Almiron '. Grealish and Almiron will now come face to face at St James' Park on Sunday for the first time since the City star made that comment while speaking to team-mate Bernardo Silva in an Instagram video following the champions' open top bus parade in Manchester last May.
Although Howe, understandably, did not want to react to what Grealish said, the Newcastle boss was asked if he was adverse to ever using such utterances to motivate his players even further for what is already a huge match against the champions.
