Newcastle United's strong response after Troy Deeney gets it so wrong

Newcastle United have not found geography to be a 'problem' after the Magpies managed to attract signings like Alexander Isak, Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon

Eddie Howe has not found geography to be a problem when it comes to attracting players to Newcastle United because the North East is a 'brilliant place to live'.

Gabby Agbonlahor once claimed that players 'don't want to live in Newcastle' to the point where they would take a pay cut to join Brentford instead. Another former England international, Trevor Sinclair, stated that 'London is an iconic city that people want to live in and Newcastle is not' while Danny Murphy argued 'most people would favour London than Newcastle'.

It was just a few months ago that Troy Deeney told a live television audience in the U.S. that Newcastle was 'not a desirable place to go and live because you're so far away from London'. Deeney suggested it was 'difficult to get people there' - despite Newcastle signing, among others, Alexander Isak, Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon, who have all spoken fondly of the area - but Howe certainly does not see it that way.

"I've not sensed that problem here," the Newcastle boss told reporters ahead of what promises to be a busy summer. "I think the biggest issue with the players is that they want to come to a club that they sense is moving forward and has a chance to win trophies and, of course, financial terms is an issue, too.

"Our PSR position is an issue in that. So there are those challenges, but it's a brilliant place to live and I've never had any issue with that.

"I came in without knowledge of it. I'd been here as an opposition manager but I'd never spent any time in the area and I've been pleasantly surprised. My family love it here. I enjoy being here as well."

That won't have come as a shock to Ian Wright, a pundit who needs no reminding about the wonders of the region after visiting friend Alan Shearer over the years.

"It's such a vibrant, unbelievable place that you would want to go to," the Londoner previously added. "It is very attractive. They play very good football...I look at Newcastle as a place where people will want to go."