Eddie Howe pays compliment to Celtic fans as Hoops return to Paradise for Newcastle clash…
Celtic welcome Newcastle to Paradise on Saturday afternoon in their first pre-season clash on home soil ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
Off the back of an impressive win against Sporting CP, the Hoops will be looking to continue making strides against a team they could meet in this season’s Champions League, should the club reach the league phase of the competition.
While Brendan Rodgers will use the game to get minutes into his Celtic squad, it will nonetheless be a good test against quality opposition.
Evidently, that is how Eddie Howe sees the game from a Newcastle perspective as well, with the 47-year-old keen to praise Celtic and their fans leading up to the game.
Eddie Howe watches on during a Newcastle pre-season training session.
Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images
‘A passionate home support’ – Eddie Howe on the test posed by Celtic
Speaking to Newcastle’s website in the build-up to the pre-season clash at Celtic Park, Howe shed light on his side’s preparations and the challenge posed by Rodgers’ side.
The Magpies boss said: “I think when you look at our pre-season games, every game’s a test. You know, Carlisle was a test because they were two weeks ahead of us in terms of fitness.”
It was here that Howe recognised the quality of the Celtic side that his Newcastle team is playing, however, adding of the game at Celtic Park: “This will be a big step up in terms of opposition.”
Pre-season or not, Howe also recognised the challenge of playing at what should be a raucous home crowd, with Hoops fans getting the first taste of their team for the 2025/26 campaign.
The Newcastle manager said: “We hope to produce a good performance in front of what will be, as we know, a passionate home support.”
Howe was nonetheless keen to emphasise and pay tribute to the Geordies who will be in attendance as well, adding that “a bigger away following” than usual would be cheering the Magpies on.
Eddie Howe and Brendan Rodgers shake hands ahead of Newcastle and Leicester’s Carabao Cup clash.
Photo by Plumb Images/Leicester City FC via Getty Images
Brendan Rodgers looks to right recent wrongs against Eddie Howe
While only a pre-season friendly, Bhoys fans can expect a competitive game in Glasgow.
Rodgers should field a strong Celtic XI, giving Kieran Tierney a homecoming in front of Hoops fans.
The Northern Irishman will also be looking to get some revenge over a manager who has tormented him in recent times.
Despite holding a superior head-to-head record over the Englishman – Rodgers has won six and lost five of the 11 games he has managed against Howe, according to Transfermarkt – the Newcastle manager has won each of his last three meetings with the 52-year-old.
Those results came when Rodgers was manager of Leicester, with the Foxes suffering 2-1 and 3-0 defeats in the Premier League, and a 3-0 loss in the League Cup, between 2022 and 2023.
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