'Put all the stats away': Craig Burley says who is the better PL manager Eddie Howe or Erik ten Hag

Newcastle United are hot on the trail of Manchester United for European Qualification again this season after the Red Devils pipped the Magpies to third place in the Premier League last season.

Fourth place was enough to gain Newcastle a place in the Champions League so it was no big deal, but this season, finishing above Manchester United could be the difference between playing in Europe again next season or watching on with jealous eyes.

Eddie Howe's men sit four points behind Erik ten Hag's outfit going into the final games of the season with Newcastle having played one more game than Man United.

However, the two sides have still to play each other at Old Trafford later this month which could prove to be a massive game in how the European race plays out.

ESPN

Craig Burley notes the difference between how Newcastle and Man United play

Old Trafford has rarely been kind to Newcastle, but this season the Magpies have already beaten Man United twice, one of which was a comprehensive 3-0 win in their own backyard, so there's no reason to be fearful anymore.

Now, former Chelsea and Scotland star Craig Burley was speaking on ESPN about who he feels is the better Premier League manager between Howe and Ten Hag and he was quite definitive in his answer (h/t Newcastle World).

“I’ll tell you what the difference is (between Howe and Ten Hag). A lot of the Newcastle performances - they’ve passed the eye test. We can put all the stats away. If you’re a stats nerd and that’s all you go on - sod off.

“There’s an eye test. When I’m watching Man United, and they’ve spent a lot more than Newcastle, against teams, you’re watching the game and you go ‘wow, how are they not competing, how are they giving up so many chances, how are they picking these points up playing like that?’

“Newcastle have had some moments like that but, generally, their football has been better. Eddie Howe, I think personally, is a better manager in England than Ten Hag.”

The run-in is going to be intense

That's got to be quite a boost to the Geordie faithful going into the final few games with a four-point gap to close up.

The game at Old Trafford will be important, but losing to Manchester United won't see us out of the race necessarily as neither side seems capable of stringing together a decent run of results.

We're in for quite a thrilling run-in and we are preparing ourselves for some high levels of stress. Get the beta blockers in!