Eddie Howe was pleased with how his side performed in the victory over Burnley at Turf Moor.
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00:00How pleased, therefore, were you with the performance of the players today?
00:04Yeah, I mean, we knew today was going to be difficult and highlighted really by the first 10 minutes because that was a tough start to the game for us.
00:11We knew Burnley would come out firing, we knew the crowd would play a part in that.
00:15So really pleased with the reaction to that first 10 minutes.
00:19And then from the goal onwards, really, when we scored our first goal, I thought it was a really good display from us.
00:23I think confidence is gradually returning to the group, strength is returning to the group.
00:28You can see by the bench today, so a really good day for us.
00:31What was it like during the time singing the end-joke again?
00:34You know where they want to be, presumably that's precisely where you want to be as well.
00:38Yeah, I mean, we've said it from a long time ago in our season, really.
00:41We're determined to try and give our all to finish as high as possible.
00:44With 10 games to go, we try to reset our targets.
00:48Since the international break, I think we've seen a big improvement in our general performances.
00:52So we need to keep that going now for the last three games.
00:55It may seem like a long time ago, going back to the autumn,
00:58people were maybe questioning why you spent so much money on Tino Liberomento and Lewis Hall.
01:03When you see how they play today, there must be a real sense of justification in that faith.
01:10Yeah, I don't think it works quite like that for me.
01:13I believed in the players when we signed them.
01:15I believed in their long-term potential.
01:17I think the difficulty is when you've got players like Kieran Trippier and the other players in those positions already.
01:23We knew to a degree that we had to invest in some younger players
01:27and the hope that they come through and really challenge for those positions.
01:30I think they're two outstanding talents.
01:32Highlighted today, really, because I think they gave us real energy and quality.
01:35So I'm delighted with both of them.
01:37Lee Ryder and then we'll go to Chris Wath.
01:41Jacob Murphy, just before he got injured, I remember that game against Crystal Palace
01:47where I think he had a hand in all four goals.
01:50Today, it seemed like it was him getting back to those type of levels.
01:56Would you agree with that assessment?
01:58Yeah, I would.
01:59I think Jacob's such a reliable player for us.
02:02He's so dependable.
02:03Today, he had quite a big job on his hands tactically.
02:07We asked him to do something slightly different today and he delivered that brilliantly.
02:12He really does understand the game.
02:15I think he's a deep thinker, but he does have the quality.
02:18And I think you could see from the goals that he assisted and he created for us
02:22how important he is to our general play, really.
02:25It feels like we're on the brink of getting back into Europe,
02:30but looking at the points, you've still got work to do.
02:33And I guess you'll probably prefer it that way.
02:36No, not really.
02:38No, but I think you've always...
02:40We've got three games to go and we want to try and give our best in each game.
02:43We want to try and play with the energy and the intensity that we had today.
02:48I thought we looked really good physically.
02:50A lot of pace in our team.
02:52I think when you've got those key qualities,
02:54I think you can give any team a difficult afternoon.
02:58Our waveform has been inconsistent.
03:00It's really good to see us win on the road in such an impressive way.
03:03Thanks, Nick. We've got Chris and then Dan for the front row.
03:05Eddie, you chose to put Callum and Alex up front together.
03:09I mean, I know you've pitched in the past in terms of the B,
03:11but I wonder if Alex played out wider because it seemed to be very much a front two.
03:15How did you think that went and what was the thinking behind it?
03:18Yeah, as I said, we asked Jacob to do a couple of different things today.
03:21The whole team really was set up slightly differently,
03:24which we felt we needed to, to play against Burnley, basically.
03:28So we felt this was the right way.
03:31And also, just with our waveform being as it has been,
03:34the opportunity to play two experienced strikers,
03:37to try and give the opposition a problem with that,
03:40especially with their physicality and their pace.
03:43But it's all very well me having that idea,
03:46but the players have got to deliver it.
03:48I just think our delivery today, our execution was at the highest level.
03:51I think we could give them a problem with the attacking players we had on the pitch.
03:55Sometimes it doesn't quite work out like that,
03:57but I did think today it did and I'm delighted to score four goals.
04:00Callum seems to have come back from his injury really fit and hungry.
04:03Yeah, I think the benefit of this injury was that it was upper body,
04:07not lower body, so he could really work on his lower strength.
04:10On his running, he did a lot of basic running
04:13just to make sure that when he came back he was fit, strong and as athletic as he can be.
04:18And I think you can see today his pace was really good.
04:21Just a word on Emile Craft, obviously stepping in,
04:23I know you said he was about to be performed,
04:25but it's not necessarily his natural position.
04:27How did he perform?
04:28Yeah, very good.
04:29Emile wouldn't have been able to have scored,
04:31I don't know what he was doing up there,
04:33but a really good performance from Crafty today.
04:35I think he, again, very dependable, very reliable.
04:37You give him a job to do and he'll do it,
04:39and I'm delighted with how he's fitted into the team.
04:42Thanks, Chris. Front row?
04:44Hi, Eddie.
04:45With the Champions League football experience on the team,
04:49and eager to get back to Europe,
04:51you've now just moved into the sixth position ahead of United,
04:55with their game in hand.
04:56Do you look at the teams around you,
04:58or do you just keep doing what you're doing?
05:01I think we've always had the trainer thoughtless about us,
05:05so we will...
05:06Of course you're aware of other teams' results,
05:08and you're aware that, especially when you have them to play,
05:11so we still have United to play,
05:13and we'll be watching them closely in the build-up to that game
05:15to try and prepare as best we can.
05:17But ultimately it's going to be about our results,
05:19and we still need to do well in all these three games left.
05:22And how are you getting the team to get back to Europe?
05:25I think you can see today there was a real desire to do well today.
05:29I sensed that pre-game, I sensed that in the training in this week,
05:32and that's because we have a really good group full of leaders and winners,
05:36and they'd love to get back to Europe, I'm sure.
05:39Thanks, Matt.
05:40To Jordan and then Dominic.
05:42You mentioned you see Jordan and Armour on board,
05:44so how much of a boost does that give you?
05:48Yeah, it's massive for us.
05:50That's something that has really hurt us during the season, I think,
05:54to have that quality ready,
05:56absolutely chomping at the bit to play.
05:58I've got to just look after those three players as well.
06:02I've got to make the right decisions
06:03and try and introduce them at the right time and get their load right.
06:06But the quality they have is undoubted,
06:08the impact on the group is undoubted,
06:10and I think the feeling pre-game was probably in part because they were there,
06:14and the group felt a lot stronger.
06:16Was it always like that, to give them minutes,
06:18or was it just because of the game on Thursday?
06:20No, well, it always depends on the game,
06:23but my plan was to try and probably give them 15, 20 minutes today,
06:27the two outfield players.
06:29I think that was just the right step up for them,
06:31and then we'll see how they train this week.
06:33Just to work on Armour, he's only a few passes up here today,
06:36I mean, what can you say about him?
06:38Incredible.
06:39And again, today, his reliability, his honesty,
06:42he shone through his performance.
06:44I thought he was very good today.
06:45Really, of course, he's strong for us,
06:47but on the floor he was excellent.
06:50He's been such a good signing for us on the pitch,
06:53but also off the pitch.
06:54He's a real leader, a real role model for everybody else,
06:56he conducts himself in a great way.
06:58A few just to finish, Dominic, Martin and then Oscar, please.
07:01Just on Dan Boone, do you feel he's a player who's enjoying wearing the captain's armband
07:05all the way to the end of the game?
07:07Yeah, I'm sure he is.
07:08I mean, he's so proud to play for the club,
07:10but icing on the cake for him, really,
07:12that he's wearing the armband.
07:14I think he, as a kid, would have watched some of the great captains
07:17that Newcastle had in previous eras,
07:19so for him to wear that armband, I know it means a lot to him.
07:22Just on the penalty, you've had Alexander Aissac and Cam Wilson on the pitch
07:26for the first time, where you've had a penalty,
07:28both had perfect records from the spot.
07:30How did the decision come about as to who will take it?
07:33Well, I think Callum wanted to take the penalty, naturally.
07:36Very hungry for goals.
07:38But Alex has been our penalty taker, and he's taken them very well until today.
07:42So Callum was very gracious.
07:44He stepped aside and he let Alex take it.
07:46Thanks.
07:47Martin?
07:48Three-and-one on Callum, Eddie.
07:50If you write him off at your peril,
07:52would you like him in Newcastle next season,
07:54and will you be pressed closer?
07:56I've got to try and remember all three.
07:58Yeah, write him off at your peril, for sure,
08:01because he comes back time and time again
08:03and a very motivated player.
08:06He wants to do his best at every moment,
08:08and I've managed him a long time now.
08:10Mentality-wise, I wouldn't swap him.
08:13He's a monster.
08:14When he's got a focus and when he's got a goal, he'll go for it.
08:18Of course I want him at the club next season.
08:20I'll do everything I can to make that happen.
08:22Yeah, and Gareth would have seen him today,
08:25and he'll make his own assessments on what he's seen.
08:28I'm sure he did himself no harm.
08:32On Callum again, you said he's had that time to work on his lower body.
08:36Is he as fit as he's ever been?
08:38Have you seen him with that time off?
08:42Yeah, I don't want to set him up for a fall.
08:45He's looking really good, and I'm delighted with him.
08:48We just hope that he can stay in this position that he's in now.