Eddie Howe’s five-word response as Roy Keane puts him forward for Man United job

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has addressed speculation linking him with the Manchester United job after Roy Keane said he would be happy to see the Englishman installed

Roy Keane believes Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe should be appointed as the next Manchester United manager. Though Howe has already addressed such speculation.

Following just 14 months in charge, Ruben Amorim was dismissed as United manager earlier this week after a breakdown in communication. The Portuguese tactician delivered a candid press conference on Sunday after his team’s 1-1 draw with Leeds United.

Darren Fletcher has temporarily taken charge, with his side drawing 2-2 against Burnley on Wednesday. The current strategy is to appoint a caretaker manager to oversee the team until summer, when a permanent successor can be secured.

Numerous candidates have been linked with the vacant position and club icon Keane believes Newcastle’s Howe would be an ideal fit. However, the English manager has already addressed such speculation in forthright terms.

Speaking on Sky Sports, Keane was questioned about his preferred choice for United’s next manager and responded: “I like what Howe has done, he’s managed a lot of games, his teams play good football.

“I know he has his critics, but I like what he’s done at Newcastle, even at Bournemouth. He’s managed 700, 800 games. I like his calmness – I think Man Utd sometimes need a bit of that.

“I like people with emotion. I’m quite an emotional person, but his calmness, what he’s done at Newcastle. Getting them into the Champions League, winning a Cup. I’d be happy to see him go in there.”

However, when asked this week if anything could lure him away from his current position at St James’ Park, Howe responded: “No. Not at this current time.

“The most important thing for me is happiness in the role, happiness in the job, the relationships that I have with the people around me.

“That has not always been consistently good,” he conceded. “Things can change at any football club, but I’m very happy at the moment.”

As for who will take the reins at United until the season’s end, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has emerged as a leading contender. The Norwegian previously managed his old club for nearly three years from 2018 to 2021.

Keane, his former team-mate, believes Solskjaer could perform well in the role, but only on a temporary basis. Keane stated: “Do I think it’s the right or wrong answer – I don’t know.

“But if it is until the end of the season, I think Ole would do alright until the end of the season. Do I see Ole as the manager for the next four or five seasons, getting Man Utd competing again, probably not.”