Former Scotland and Ipswich star Alan Brazil has hailed the job of Eddie Howe after admitting he thought that Newcastle United were destined for a return to the Championship this season. The talkSPORT pundit says that one-time England managerial candidate Howe has done a sensational job after hauling Newcastle from the relegation zone to safety.
Brazil does not see Newcastle getting sucked into the scrap at the bottom again, regardless what happens this weekend at Tottenham Hotspur, and says that United have escaped the "nightmare scenario" after the new owners walked into a club on its knees back in October.
Brazil will join former Arsenal and Middlesbrough star Ray Parlour on Tyneside in June at the Tyne Theatre and Opera House as TalkSPORT hits the road over the summer months. For Brazil, it is a trip he is looking forward to and he knows he will be heading to a city re-energised by the takeover.
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Brazil told Chronicle Live: "Newcastle reminds me of Glasgow with Celtic and Rangers, I know it's a one city team, but what passion. What has happened up there is incredible.
"I remember watching the first few games when the new owners came in and maybe they were sitting there and probably thinking: 'What have we got into here'. It was a nightmare scenario for them, wasn't it? Suddenly the manager is now getting his message across.
"It is amazing what self-belief does for players. Once you start believing you are still a good player and you are in a good side, you know you can escape. It is unbelievable what has happened up there. "So I think Eddie Howe should be proud of himself.
"Newcastle will stay up - we know that now. But at one stage I had my doubts, Leeds and Everton are now thinking: 'Crikey!' Newcastle are out of it now and the only way is up."
Howe will be handed more money to spend this summer with Newcastle's ambitious owners looking to push for the top half next season. Behind the scenes, United chiefs no longer want an annual count up to 40 points and simply settling for survival.
Brazil said: "They will plough in more money and for Eddie, it's not a case of it saving his career, because at one stage we were talking about him as an England manager. "If he keeps going with Newcastle he will enjoy it and the fans will love him.
"That's what he needs, the fans are happy, and I am sure he is privately happy. "With more money and being good in the transfer market, Newcastle can be back in the top half of the table again - no doubt about it."
Newcastle's last top half finish came in 2018 when Rafa Benitez secured 10th place in the table. But they haven't been back since. What can realistically be expected next season? Brazil reflected: "It depends on how much he's got. And who he brings in, and how quickly they can gel.
"If they gel well and they start well why not? It needs to be top half first then maybe Europa Conference League. I could not even dream of top four or five or even sixth, but if they can maybe knock on the door, it's ninth, eighth or seventh which is Europe now.
"You have to give this man (Howe) time though. As I say it's down to how much money he's got and who buys the players, that's very important."
Brazil has often been a critic of the Magpies and felt that Steve Bruce was harshly treated when he was sacked. But he says he never wanted them to experience the horrors of relegation. Brazil said: "I think Newcastle are safe now and I never wanted to see them back in the Championship. "I didn't want them to go through that again, Leeds had it as well. "It's a nightmare."
*Brazil and Parlour will be on stage at Tyne Theatre & Opera House, Newcastle on Tuesday 21st June, 2022
To book tickets head to www.talkSPORT.com/events.
