Intensity is still our identity, insists Howe

EDDIE

- By LEE RYDER

Howe has insisted that Newcastle United's slogan 'Intensity is our identity' is still relevant in his Toon dressing room.The Magpies created reasonable openings against Man United on Boxing Night but struggled to match the desire of Ruben Amorim's men and when push came to shove could not wrestle the solitary lead handed to them by Patrick Dorgu in the first half.

In Howe's first three full seasons the team went for the throats of opponents and became one of the most hated teams in the Premier League to play against.

But that appeared lost at Old Trafford on Boxing Day as Manchester United soaked up the second-half pressure and pulled off a narrow win. Howe was asked where that intensity had gone after the game at Old Trafford.

Howe said: "It has certainly been more difficult for us to do that (show intensity) because we have played every two or three days.