EDDIE HOWE insists he only sees his long-term future with Newcastle United, and is looking forward to seeing how his side cope with the added demands of European football next season.

Howe has overseen a radical transformation of Newcastle’s fortunes during his year-and-a-half at St James’ Park, turning a team that was struggling to keep its head above water in the bottom half of the table into a side that will be competing in the Champions League next term.

His achievements have not gone unnoticed, and as well as being linked with the current managerial vacancy at Tottenham, the 45-year-old is also regularly touted as a potential long-term successor to England boss Gareth Southgate.

Howe is aware of the speculation, but is adamant he has no desire whatsoever to leave Newcastle while the club is at the beginning of what could prove a truly remarkable journey.

When asked whether his long-term future is with Newcastle, the Magpies head coach said: “Very much so – there is no other thought in my mind.

“For as long as I’m wanted, Newcastle is where I want to be. I’m hugely excited about next season, and hopefully beyond.”

Next season will see the Magpies return to the Champions League stage for the first time in more than two decades.

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A place in European football’s premier competition will inevitably lead to challenges in terms of attempting to compete on a number of different fronts, but Howe is adamant a Champions League campaign should not mean a lessening of ambitions on the domestic front.

He said: “It can be tougher (playing in Europe), but I don’t want to come across as negative or pessimistic in any way, or almost having that mindset going into next season.

“We need to go into next season full of positivity and full of what can be. We want to compete, we want to try and win a trophy.

“We are very, very ambitious to move things on, but the challenges will get harder and we have to be better. A lot of that is going to be dictated by what we do in the window and obviously our work on the training pitch. The process will not change.”