Jack Wilshere has backed Eddie Howe to be a success as Newcastle United manager and turn them into a top six Premier League club.
The newly-rich Magpies are close to confirming the appointment of Howe as Steve Bruce’s successor, with terms agreed on a two-and-a-half year contract.
Wilshere spent a season on loan from Arsenal at Bournemouth under Howe and feels the 43-year-old is the ideal appointment for the Toon Army.
“I worked with him at a club that I see now are quite similar to Newcastle – not in terms of the size of the club, but in terms of the players,” he said, speaking on talkSPORT’s Drive Time show.
“Newcastle have got a few ex-Bournemouth players and that is what Eddie does, he gets the best out of those types of players, gets them going and he gets the fans on side.
“He’s a great manager.
“I think he deserves a chance. If he goes in and does really well, in a few years they could be pushing the top six, which I think he can do.
“When I played under him at Bournemouth we arguably had a worse squad and we finished ninth, so he can definitely do that.
“It’s down to him when he gets that chance to take them to the next level.”
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Saudi-backed Newcastle are now one of the richest clubs in the world – their owners’ wealth is put at more than £300billion – and are being linked with some star signings.
Eden Hazard is among those being tipped for a move to St James’ Park and Wilshere insists Howe would have no problem handling big personalities like the Real Madrid playmaker.
“He was great with me, because it was tough for me there because I was coming from a big club. I stepped into a group that had been together since they were in League One, they were all friends,” he said.
“They were all great with me, but Eddie made sure they were. He was great with me.
“Eden Hazard is another level, but I think Eden would love playing for a manager like Eddie Howe [at Newcastle]. He’s the type of manager you want to play for.”
Howe wasn’t seemingly Newcastle’s top choice for the job, with the club having held talks with Unai Emery before the Spaniard decided to stay at Villarreal.
But Wilshere – who played under Emery at Arsenal – feels Howe is the right man to make an immediate impact and lead the club away from relegation danger.
He continued: “Unai Emery has managed at top clubs, he’s managed in Europe.
“Newcastle are a big club, don’t get me wrong, but they’re in a relegation battle and that takes a whole new level and style of management.
“He hasn’t got time to find the playing style, they need results now.
“Someone needs to go in there and speak to the leaders and get everyone on board – that’s the first thing you need to do. Don’t worry about playing staff, you need to get everyone trying again.
“Eddie can do that.”