The Athletic's George Caulkin has dropped an update on Newcastle United's manager search involving former Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe.

What's the story?

With Steve Bruce set to be sacked as Magpies boss, there have already been plenty of names bandied about in terms of taking over the helm at St James' Park.

And, in a Q&A for The Athletic, Caulkin has delivered some news on where things stand with Howe, and whether he would be an ideal fit for Newcastle.

He said: "I know that members of the board have discussed Howe amongst themselves, but I don’t think he’s on the list I mentioned (they don’t have to stick to that list, of course!). Howe makes sense in some ways – he built Bournemouth, took them into the Premier League and did a brilliant job.

"Newcastle is very different to Bournemouth, though; bigger, louder, far more intense and demanding of managers. Bournemouth were also relegated under him. Look at where Newcastle are in the table."

PIF must avoid Howe appointment

While appointing Howe a few years ago when he was earning rave reviews about his management and style of play at Bournemouth may have been seen as a coup, the way his tenure with the Cherries ended has surely sounded alarm bells.

After a couple of seasons successfully establishing Bournemouth as a Premier League side, a real struggle in his last year at the club saw him unable to save them from relegation.

Since then, Howe has spent time away from football, and after being linked with the manager's job at Celtic over the summer, didn't end up being appointed there.

As well as having a Premier League relegation on his CV, Howe's record as a manager is hardly something to write home about: his final campaign in the top-flight saw him average considerably less than a point per game, and never averaged more than 1.2 in the time Bournemouth spent in the Premier League.

It would be an extremely underwhelming hire from Newcastle to go for someone who has been out of work for well over a year, and his last season ending in a relegation.

Fans will surely be worried if Howe is the man PIF go for.

Meanwhile, Newcastle must also get rid of this man as well as Bruce...