EDDIE Howe has launched an impassioned defence of his decision to stonewall questions relating to human rights abuses linked with Newcastle’s Saudi owners.

The Toon chief refused to become embroiled in the debate after Sunday’s 1-0 defeat at Chelsea.

The issue once again dominated the agenda at Howe’s press conference ahead of tomorrow's game at struggling Everton.

But on this occasion, Howe articulated the reasons behind his own stance, claimed he’s always been a student of world politics and revealed he’s reading up on those geo-political matters which are becoming increasingly important in modern-day football.

While many Newcastle fans have taken to social media, complaining at the treatment dished out to Howe at Stamford Bridge, the man himself had no complaints about his interrogation.

“It’s a difficult one for everyone concerned,” said the Magpies’ head coach.

“And I understand the questions have to be asked – I’ve got no problem with that.

“From my perspective – and I’ve always maintained this – my specialist subject is football. It’s what I know and it’s what I’ve trained to do.

“As soon as I deviate from that into an area where I feel I don’t feel qualified to have a huge opinion, I think I go into dangerous ground. So I prefer to stick to what I believe I know.

“It’s not uncomfortable to be asked but then it’s my right to answer in the way that I feel is best for me and Newcastle United.”

Howe’s reluctance to discuss the controversy surrounding Newcastle’s Saudi owners and the brutal regime in the kingdom is not born out of ignorance, however.

Indeed, he’s probably more educated than most of his peers on the subject.

“I was a footballer with a slight difference,” he added. “When I was 19 or 20 at Bournemouth, going onto the team bus with The Times under my arm and getting some very strange looks from my team-mates.

“But I come from a family where things were pushed towards me and I was quite interested in world politics. I had a little more time when I was playing to look into it.”

Despite his hectic schedule now, Howe plans to keep up to date with world affairs more than he has done recently.

“It is something I will have to dedicate more time to,” he promised.

“Anyone who has seen me work behind the scenes knows that I am football and job obsessed.

“Part of my job now in the modern management scene is to know what is going on around the world and I will do that.

“But football has to be and always will be my passion and the main crux of the job. I think that is where my time needs to be spent.”

While he’s reluctant to shed too much light on conversations with Amanda Staveley, her husband Mehrdad Ghodoussi and, less frequently, chairman Yasir-Al-Rumayyan, he confirmed non-football issues have cropped up.

“I’ve had discussions with them on various things,” he said. “Would I like them to come out? No.

“They will do what they think is right for the football club and they’re also acting in the best interests of Newcastle United as I am.”

Howe accepts that as the frontman for a club, whose de factor owner is Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, questions relating to human rights abuses, executions and the war in Yemen will continue to be hurled in his direction.

“I understand that,” he said. “But my wish is to just talk about football. That’s what I enjoy doing and that is what I believe I’m best at.”