The 48-year-old, who guided Newcastle to their first major domestic trophy in 70 years last season, has been a steady presence at the club since his appointment in November 2021. Only Manchester City's Pep Guardiola, Arsenal's Mikel Arteta, and Fulham's Marco Silva have longer tenures among current Premier League managers.

"I'm 100 per cent here," Howe said. "Nothing has changed from my perspective. It's about today's work and preparing the team as best as we can. As long as I'm happy and able to express myself fully to help the team, nothing will change."

Howe highlighted that his focus is on happiness in his role and maintaining strong relationships within the club. He acknowledged past tensions with former sporting director Paul Mitchell but praised his current working relationship with Ross Wilson, who replaced Mitchell last summer. "The most important thing for me is happiness in the role, happiness in the job, and the relationships I have with the people around me. Things can change at any football club, but at the moment, I am very happy," he said.

Newcastle's recent performances have reflected a mix of promise and inconsistency. The team sits ninth in the Premier League, just two points off fifth, has reached the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup, and is on course for a last-16 play-off spot in the Champions League. Howe also stressed the importance of unity from top to bottom, emphasizing the strong backing he enjoys from the club's majority owners, the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, and minority shareholder Jamie Reuben.

Amid increasing media attention and outside noise, Howe remains focused on the team and ignores external distractions. "There is a lot more media and exposure to different opinions. My method is to bunker myself away from it and to ignore it," he explained. "Getting involved in politics and all the other stuff won't help me, the team, or the players."

Having signed a long-term contract extension in 2022, Howe is committed to continuing his project at Newcastle. "I consider myself very lucky to have the confidence and trust of the board," he said. "Hopefully, that stays for a long time."

Hugo Broos laments bad luck after Bafana Bafana AFCON exit