Eddie Howe admits he must be weary of rivals heaping more pressure on his Newcastle United team.
The last fortnight has resulted in Pep Guardiola coming out and praising the Magpies and talking up both their Champions League and title credentials. That would be a huge step up for a Newcastle team that started the calendar year in the relegation zone.
And for Howe the expectation levels externally are a new issue he must deal with. Speaking about Guardiola's comments, Howe said: "I’m not sure whether it’s an honest reflection that he’s given or whether he’s just trying to put more pressure on us. It’s difficult without the context of the interview he’s given but he’s someone I respect.
