Eddie Howe has always been in contention for the Celtic job but this week the rumours have intensified to the point the Englishman is now considered to be a viable and very real candidate to replace Neil Lennon.

With that in mind, we can already see some in the media sharpening their knives AND that’s before we know if he’s even going to get the job!

TalkSport who historically support English based managers and have been a proponent of Eddie Howe on the whole suddenly burst into a negative headline.

It centres around Jermain Defoe and his ill-fated spell at Bournemouth.

‘Eddie Howe didn’t know what to do with me’ was the headline in an article that wasn’t really centred around Howe.

If we look at the article and the contents of what Jermain Defoe said, it should actually be seen as a positive by the Celtic support. The English frontman describes not getting a chance at Bournemouth and not being able to keep up with the new programme changes implemented by Howe and his team.

“I went to Bournemouth and just didn’t really get an opportunity, didn’t get a run of games.

“It was a different way of playing there. My programme was changed. They were asking me to do things I hadn’t really done before and that was it.

“Because I didn’t get a run of games, it was hard for me to perform, it was just like stop-start. I’d play two games then miss a few games. Towards the end I wasn’t even getting on the pitch.”

So a veteran striker on his way out of the game who is more used to the Harry Redknapp approach to coaching can’t wrap his mind around new programmes and a modern way of doing things?

This should convince many doubters Eddie is the man for a new generation of players who want to be coached. They don’t just want to be told where to stand, things are analysed and scrutinised for the betterment of the team.

Eddie hasn’t played Jermain because he’s clearly not been able to buy into his philosophy. We have young players at Celtic who will.