Newcastle United have coped perfectly well without their sporting director in recent weeks.

That is the view of manager Eddie Howe, who was asked about the Dan Ashworth saga.

The Newcastle director wants to leave for Manchester United, but has been placed on gardening leave that could last for a year.

"Naturally, in my opinion, a club this size has to have that role filled," Howe told reporters if he hoped that a new sporting director would be in charge for the summer window.

"The club will do everything it can to find the right person to do that.

"In the meantime, we have people in place that are filling that void and doing a very good job I have to say.

“We have carried on quite well with Dan's exit and the club's functioning well at the moment."