Former Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere has tipped Eddie Howe to shine at Newcastle United and deliver success back to St James' Park.
The 43-year-old is reportedly close to agreeing a deal to become the Magpies' new permanent boss after Steve Bruce left his position as head coach last month.
Graeme Jones is expected to take charge of Newcastle's game against Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday, with Howe set to be appointed during the international break.
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Having guided Bournemouth to five successive seasons in the Premier League, he has gained plenty of top-flight experience and could be the ideal replacement to keep the Magpies in the division.
Wilshere, who played under Howe at the Cherries, believes that he is the perfect option to take Newcastle forward, claiming he is a 'great manager'.
"I worked with him at a club that I see now are quite similar to Newcastle – not in terms of the size of the club, but in terms of the players," Wilshere told talkSPORT.
"Newcastle have got a few ex-Bournemouth players and that is what Eddie does, he gets the best out of those types of players, gets them going and he gets the fans on side. He’s a great manager.
"I think he deserves a chance. If he goes in and does really well, in a few years they could be pushing the top six, which I think he can do.
"When I played under him at Bournemouth we arguably had a worse squad and we finished ninth, so he can definitely do that.
"It’s down to him when he gets that chance to take them to the next level."
The Magpies currently sit in a precarious position towards the bottom of the Premier League, having failed to win any of their opening 10 matches so far.
They remain six points away from Leeds United in 17th and it's safe to say Howe will have a tough job on his hands to steer them out of the relegation places.
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