Report reveals what Toon trio told Amanda Staveley last night during Eddie Howe talks

A few hours before Unai Emery's U-turn was confirmed in an official statement yesterday, Football Insider reported yesterday that the club had shifted their focus to Eddie Howe.

They reported on Wednesday lunchtime that the out of work Englishman was in 'advanced talks' with Amanda Staveley - and now claim he's received a host of ringing endorsements from the NUFC dressing room.

According to Football Insider's latest exclusive, ex-Bournemouth trio Callum Wilson, Ryan Fraser and Matt Ritchie have all been in touch with Staveley over the past 24 hours, urging the club to appoint their former manager.

The piece states that he has 'full dressing room backing' ahead of his likely appointment, with it looking increasingly likely that he will land the job at St James' Park.

Sky Sports confirmed earlier today that he held further talks with the club on Thursday morning, however it seems he's facing a race against time to be in the dugout for Saturday's trip to Brighton.

Howe has been out of work for over 15 months now, having left Bournemouth last year after they suffered relegation to the Championship after five seasons in the top flight.

He rejected a move to Celtic over the summer and was in the frame for the Crystal Palace job at one stage.