Newcastle boss Eddie Howe admits a commitment to physical fitness has helped his management.

Howe enjoys his regular early-morning work-outs at the club's Darsley Park training base.

He said: "I try to take time out but to be honest I don't relax well. Any manager will tell you the same because the work is so intense day to day. Then suddenly if you're given a few days where you don't have decisions to make and training to take it's almost a strange feeling.

"You don't tend to unwind easily, even in the summer it takes a couple of weeks before you can return to normal. In my own strange way, going to the gym and physical activity has turned into my way of relaxing.

"There's also a bit of cardio work in there as well so I tend to work out quite early in the morning. Dan (Hodges, fitness chief) comes in with me, he puts the sessions on and I just do what he says.

"It seems to work for me. Fitness and exercise just gets me into a much better frame of mind to attack my work. Without it I don't feel as good so it's an important part of my regime."