Simon Jordan says Eddie Howe is a 'far better manager' than he envisaged, after Newcastle United laid down a marker in the race for the top four with a 5-1 win over West Ham on Wednesday.
Newcastle strengthened their grip hold on the Champions League places with an emphatic victory, and now boast a three-point lead over fifth-place Tottenham.
The Magpies have also played a game fewer than Spurs, and sit above Manchester United, who they beat 2-0 last weekend, due to their far superior goal difference.
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Howe has helped Newcastle get their quest for Champions League qualification back on track in recent weeks, with the Magpies currently enjoying a run of four wins on the spin.
Jordan was initially sceptical over Howe's appointment following PIF's takeover of Newcastle, but is happy to admit that he underestimated him.
"I was wrong about his appointment because he's gone in there, he's caught this wave, and he's ridden it. And more than ridden it, he's directed it, and he's now coming out as a far better manager than I envisaged he was," Jordan told talkSPORT.
"That's great when you're in the ascendency and we haven't yet seen any kinks, or any bumps in the road, but there's nothing to indicate that we are going to right now.
"There's been a direction of travel that has been upwards since he's walked through the door but he's been responsible for that. The decisions that he's made, the playing squad that he's got. We all raved about Bruno Guimaraes but he's sort of receding in the background because the whole team is so good.
"It isn't just because of one player and that is down to coaching. That is down to Eddie Howe, and it's down to Jason Tindall and his set-up, and what they've achieved at Newcastle is brilliant."
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