Eddie Howe says he has the “fire” to lead Newcastle’s rebuild this summer, but that doesn’t guarantee he will stay at the club. 

Howe’s future is at a crossroads after four-and-a-half years at the helm at St James’ Park, with a feeling the squad is at the “end of a cycle”. 

“I can understand why people would look at it and say that,” said Howe. 

“We’ve got a few players out of contract. Some big players who have done some amazing things for the club maybe entering the final months of their time here. 

“You’ve got possibly players leaving in the summer and that natural evolution that side which happens. I can understand why ‘the end of a cycle’ may be used.

“What that looks like is unknown. It’s always unknown. To try and predict the summer transfer window is almost impossible. It’s been impossible in every window I’ve ever managed.

“The key thing for the club and me as the manager is to make sure we come out stronger for it. To do that, you need your processes and departments in place that run that in an elite way.

“In terms of my fire, it’s burning very strongly. That’s no guarantee, obviously, from my side about what’s going to happen in the future because the forces that move in clubs move quickly. 

“My fire is there. There’s loads of wood stacked up and I’m ready to put it on it.

He added: “I just want serve the club and do what’s right for the football club. That’s always been my aim. If that’s me leaving to help the club, then of course that’s something I’ll do, I’ve got no issue doing that. It’s not about me.

“But if I believe I’m the right person to take the club forward, which I do currently right now, then I’ll do that and I’ll fight to the end. I’ll fight harder than I’ve ever fought before, but it’s about making sure that those two things are aligned.”