Howe calls on Newcastle to use spirit of Robson to inspire win over PSV

Eddie Howe urged Newcastle to use the spirit of former boss Bobby Robson as they target a vital Champions League victory against PSV Eindhoven.

Robson enjoyed a successful two-year stint in charge of PSV in the 1990s before finishing his managerial career with five years at Newcastle from 1999 to 2004.

The former England coach twice won the Dutch title at PSV and although he never lifted a trophy with Newcastle, he remains fondly remembered at both clubs.

“We’re all well aware of the history with Sir Bobby,” Howe told reporters on Tuesday.

“Hard work, organisation, always going to the end, never giving up, and trying to do the crowd justice by representing the club in the right way, these are all values he stood for.

“He wanted teams to fully commit to the crowd and give it everything on a match day. That’s what we are going to try to do.

“We have been trying to live by those principles ever since I arrived here. I think that’s what the crowd want to see.”

Newcastle, currently 12th in the Champions League standings, will host PSV on Wednesday having taken 10 points from their first six group phase matches.

They are close to securing a play-off berth at least, but automatic qualification for the last 16 via a top eight finish remains a significant challenge with a trip to holders Paris Saint-Germain in their last group game.

“This club is just growing every year. We achieved already great things, I think, but we definitely want to have more,” Newcastle defender Sven Botman said.

“We definitely are setting a goal for ourselves to be in the Champions League spots every single season.”