Howe says gym sessions help him relax amid Newcastle's top four push

‘I try and lift some weights – although I know I might not look like it!’ – Eddie Howe reveals how he blows off steam by pumping iron amid Newcastle’s top four push… as he claims fitness helps him ‘attack his work’ ahead of Man United clash

• Eddie Howe said gym sessions have become his way to unwind as a manager
• Howe has rewatched Newcastle’s Carabao Cup final loss to Manchester United
• The teams meet again on Sunday in a key match in the race to end in the top four 

Eddie Howe has become a fully paid-up devotee of the stress-busting benefits of pumping iron.

But the modest Newcastle boss insists there’ll never be any danger of mistaking him for Arnold Schwarzenegger, after lifting the lid on his novel way of helping to cope with the 24/7 pressure of Premier League management.

Regular gym sessions for most people are at best a chore, but Howe relishes his regular early-morning work-outs at the club’s Darsley Park training base.

Many of his top flight counterparts appear to have the weight of the world on their shoulders, and the 45-year-old admits he can find it hard to relax given the all-consuming nature of the job.

He said: ‘I try to take time out but to be honest I don’t relax well. Any manager will tell you the same because the work is so intense day to day. Then suddenly if you’re given a few days where you don’t have decisions to make and training to take it’s almost a strange feeling.

Eddie Howe says gym sessions have helped him to cope with the pressure of management

Howe admits he struggles to relax well amid the all-consuming nature of the Newcastle job

‘You don’t tend to unwind easily, even in the summer it takes a couple of weeks before you can return to normal. In my own strange way, going to the gym and physical activity has turned into my way of relaxing.’

Under the expert guidance of the club’s head of performance Dan Hodges, Howe often arrives at work at the crack of dawn to take his stresses out on the bench press and bicep curl before taking training.

He’ll never be in Brazilian midfielder Joelinton’s league when it comes to a chiselled physique, but he added: ‘I try and lift some weights – although I know I might not look like it!

‘There’s also a bit of cardio work in there as well so I tend to work out quite early in the morning. Dan comes in with me, he puts the sessions on and I just do what he says.

‘It seems to work for me. Fitness and exercise just gets me into a much better frame of mind to attack my work. Without it I don’t feel as good so it’s an important part of my regime.’

Howe admits rewatching Newcastle’s Carabao Cup final loss to Man United several times

Victory over Manchester United at St James’ Park on Sunday will keep the Magpies on track for a top four finish and see them hit 50 points to eclipse last season’s tally of 49 with 11 games remaining.

Howe insists he’s not out for revenge after the Carabao Cup final defeat to Erik ten Hag’s side in February. He has lost count of the number of times he’s sat through re-runs of United’s 2-0 Wembley victory, and added: ‘I’ve no idea how many times I’ve rewatched it, but it’s certainly a lot.

‘We’ve done so again this week in preparation for Sunday. as we have with a number of Manchester United’s other recent games.’

Keeper Nick Pope has recovered from a thigh problem that ruled Newcastle’s first choice out of England duty last month, and Sven Botman is fit to play after a bout of food poisoning. Joelinton is available after suspension but Miguel Almiron and Anthony Gordon remain sidelined through injury.

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