Ex-Sunderland striker Darren Bent belives a defeat this weekend in the FA Cup would doom Newcastle United Manager Eddie Howe.
Howe watched his fortunes at the St. James’ Park club transformed within weeks.
He was heroic last season, leading the team to fourth position and the Carabao Cup final.
But he must now find a way to defeat local rivals and Championship side Sunderland in the cup.
“I don’t even think it would be from the supporters,” Bent told talkSPORT of Howe, whose team are in ninth place in the Premier League and out of Europe entirely.
“I think the supporters understand they’re ahead of schedule and the job that he’s done has been fantastic.
“But I think the owners have now had a taste of European football and they want to invest money into the squad – you can invest more money in the squad if you’re in the Champions League.
“But if they start to drift away from Europe – which at the minute, they are – I think the owners might panic and go: ‘Enough’s enough, get someone else in.’
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