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Ange Postecoglou admits he owes Newcastle boss Eddie Howe a thank you for his unintended role in his journey to Tottenham.<\/p>\n
Sunday will see Postecoglou and Howe go head-to-head for the first time, but back in the summer of 2021 they were the talk of Glasgow.<\/p>\n
Howe was widely expected to take the vacant Celtic role only to turn it down following prolonged negotiations, which resulted in Postecoglou getting the nod.<\/p>\n
The Australian never looked back and after he won five trophies during his two-year stay in Scotland, it convinced Spurs to give the 58-year-old his first opportunity to be a Premier League manager.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh absolutely, sliding doors moment,\u201d Postecoglou acknowledged.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s probably been no bigger decision in me being here today than Eddie knocking back the Celtic job.<\/p>\n
\u201cI haven\u2019t thanked him, I probably should.\u201d<\/p>\n
Postecoglou quickly took the Premier League by storm upon his arrival and guided Tottenham to the top flight summit in October, but the past six weeks has produced a five-match winless run and a growing list of absentees.<\/p>\n
But the experienced coach is not in the mood to panic, he insisted: \u201cThe pressure is the pressure, you know.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s always there, it\u2019s how you kind of treat it and I\u2019ve never let it sort of guide my path or my way forward.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor me, I don\u2019t have a three or five year plan up my sleeve that\u2019s guaranteed for success. What I do have is a plan that I think will get us to where we need to be.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow long that takes? I don\u2019t know. It depends on how we keep disciplined in staying and sticking (to) the path.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s how focused you are and how committed you are to go on the path you\u2019ve started. I\u2019m unwavering with that, I just will not budge. I just think that\u2019s what I believe is the best way forward.\u201d<\/p>\n
I think our next few games, if he keeps developing the way he is, he’ll get an opportunity in a game as well.<\/p>\n
Injuries to Micky van de Ven and James Maddison have proved costly and while Spurs recently welcomed back Pape Sarr and Richarlison, they remain without eight first-teamers for Sunday\u2019s match.<\/p>\n
Newcastle boast an equally large number of players on the treatment table, which has opened the door for 17-year-old Lewis Miley, who has impressed over the past month.<\/p>\n
Postecoglou has several of his own academy graduates involved in the squad right now and admitted he could turn to Tottenham Under-21 playmaker Jamie Donley, 18, if they continue to struggle for goals.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s fair to say Newcastle are probably the only other club who have gone through anything like we have from an injury perspective. That\u2019s going to affect every club, but I think they\u2019ve battled through it reasonable well, very well in fact,\u201d Postecoglou added.<\/p>\n
https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/C0kdtputTJ7<\/p>\n
\u201cPlayers have an opportunity every day to show what they can do and give me food for thought in terms of selection.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf I\u2019m not doing it, there\u2019s a reason why I\u2019m not doing it, but that doesn\u2019t mean it doesn\u2019t change for next week or the week after.<\/p>\n
\u201cCertainly Jamie, I think he\u2019s developing. It\u2019s benefitted him training with us regularly now.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s a permanent fixture in here and within that context I think our next few games, if he keeps developing the way he is, he\u2019ll get an opportunity in a game as well.\u201d<\/p>\n