Newcastle United are understood to be "close" to agreeing a new contract for long serving defender Paul Dummett.
The Academy product has held "positive" talks with the Magpies and both parties are hopeful that he signs the deal offered to him at the end of the season. Dummett's existing arrangement is due to expire on June 30 but like Dan Burn and Matt Ritchie is set for an extension.
Howe is keen to keep Dummett on the books for another season and feels there will be plenty of opportunities for him to push for action. At 31 he is one of the most experience Newcastle players in the dressing room with 206 senior appearances behind him.
Speaking about Dummett, Eddie Howe said at the end of the season: "He's a very good player, Paul. "The beauty of him is he can play a couple of positions for us, left-back or centre-half. "It's great to have a player to have that experience and ability.
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"Yes, he hasn't had that opportunity yet to get in the team because of the consistency of other players but he's somebody we value very highly as a player, person and professional."
