I'M EDDIE NO-MATES

Clubs won't loan me their players groans Howe

- SIMON BIRD

EDDIE HOWE spelt out a bleak message to his players yesterday and then told them to rise to the challenge.

The Toon coach claimed the Saudi-owned club have NO cash, NO players coming back quickly from injury and NO friends willing to do loan deals.

No hope? There is always hope on Tyneside and fans believe the Arabs who bankroll the club are in it for the long haul and will get there in the end.

For now, Howe wants his stars to prove themselves top-six quality year after year, with champions Manchester City visiting today and Aston Villa next.

Howe admitted he can't afford to buy a player like Bournemouth's Dominic Solanke, linked to the Toon, and echoed chief executive Darren Eales in saying he can't guarantee top players won't be sold.

He said loan bids have stalled, with City's Kalvin Phillips (inset) a target, and claimed: "I'm not sure we have many friends in the market."