NEWCASTLE: Eddie Howe has said he is not the master of Premier League 鈥渄ark arts鈥� despite claims to the contrary by the likes of Erik ten Hag and Thomas Frank.
In fact, he does not even know where the tag has come from as he says it does not reflect how his Newcastle United team have performed this campaign.
The Magpies have shocked the top flight this season with their quick, compact and pressing style, much akin to the first incarnation of Jurgen Klopp鈥檚 Liverpool.
However, their streetwise style has drawn comparisons to Diego Simeone鈥檚 Atletico Madrid from some quarters, with gamesmanship said to be a part of the Magpies鈥� armory as they battle to upset the top order.
Brentford boss Frank, following Newcastle鈥檚 2-1 victory over his side, was the latest manager to throw shade on Howe and his players, claiming 鈥渄ark arts鈥� were at play at the Gtech Community Stadium.
United鈥檚 boss Howe, though, is not interested in any of that kind of chatter, claiming his side just do what is required to win.
He said: 鈥淚 don鈥檛 even know what the dark arts are. If someone could explain that to me that would be great.
鈥淚鈥檝e said many times we just do what we can to try and win, but always within the rules of the games.鈥�
Does this type of criticism bother Howe? He admits that it is irrelevant, as long as it does not get under the skin of referees.
He added: 鈥淚t shouldn鈥檛 have an impact on referees. They should just referee the game as they see it. As I say, someone has to sit down and explain the dark arts.
鈥淓rik made his comments quite clear about time wasting but we don鈥檛 want that in any game. We want to try and impose ourselves, have a quick game and have the ball in play.
鈥淚 understand the statistic that our ball is in play the least but that could be due to a number of reasons, not us slowing the game down.鈥�
The Magpies head to in-form Aston Villa on Saturday with Howe looking to get one over on a manager who could have been sitting in his place.
Newcastle moved to buy Unai Emery out of his contract at Villarreal but were eventually turned down by the Spaniard, and instead opted for second-choice Howe.
It was a 鈥淪liding Doors鈥� moment for the United boss, one that has proved transformative not only for himself, but also Newcastle.
Howe said: 鈥淲ithout a doubt it was [life changing].
鈥淚 don鈥檛 really think back to that moment; maybe I should. But I very rarely tend to go back. I always believe your life takes the journey it is meant to go on.
鈥淚 was due to come here; that is what happened. But I am here because Unai turned the job down, so I鈥檓 delighted that he did.
鈥淔ate has a strange way of working and now we come together. I have nothing but respect for the job he has done and the career he has had. But I鈥檓 very thankful he made that decision.鈥�
Howe is set to be handed a fitness boost by the return of Miguel Almiron to full training, while it looks like an injury sustained by Allan Saint-Maximin before the trip to West Ham is not as serious as first feared.
Paraguayan Almiron has been working hard to return to fitness in order to make a comeback.
And Howe has revealed the top scorer is ahead of schedule, and has a chance of featuring at Villa Park.
He said: 鈥淗e has done really well. He is ahead of schedule at the moment, so fingers crossed he gets through training and is available for us very soon. I think we鈥檒l need to see how he trains. He鈥檚 had limited training time but he鈥檚 looked really good.鈥�
On Saint-Maximin, Howe said: 鈥淗e is away getting treatment at the moment, but hopefully at some stage next week he will be back with us.
鈥淚 am a firm believer that you do not have to be in Newcastle to get the best treatment. It is all about the player.
鈥淚t is a squad game. We are going to need everyone to be involved. And hopefully when anyone gets the opportunity they can change the game and help us get a positive result.
鈥淚 can only pick 11 players and I have a very strong squad, so I think the understanding of the group has been really good.
鈥淭here have been no internal issues. Of course, when players don鈥檛 play they are disappointed, but I have to make the right decisions for the team.鈥�