Eddie Howe has been heavily tipped for a return to management, with the former Newcastle United boss in line for one of the top jobs in football.
The 48-year-old has been out of work since deciding to step down from the St James' Park hotseat in July. Howe, who spent almost five years on Tyneside, decided he wanted a break from the rigours of management after a draining last 12 months at Newcastle.
Pressure at Old Trafford and Spurs
The coach will be looking to stay on the sidelines for a little longer to help recharge his batteries, but is already being linked with a number of high-profile positions in the Premier League and elsewhere.
Both Manchester United and Tottenham have started the season slowly, with pressure already building on Michael Carrick and Roberto De Zerbi. The two sides met on Saturday night at Old Trafford, with Spurs claiming a late equaliser to earn a 1-1 draw despite having Rodrigo Bentacur sent off with 12 minutes to play.
Spurs largely dominated the game when it came to chances, but Bryan Mbeumo had given Carrick's side the lead against the run of play before Dominic Solanke's late leveller.
Howe's stock remains high
The result satisfied neither set of supporters and leaves Tottenham still in the bottom three and without a Premier League win all season, while Man United are 13th with only one victory, against newly-promoted Ipswich Town.
Howe has been out of football since deciding to leave Newcastle in the summer, but will be top of the many clubs' wishlist should they opt to switch managers in the near future.
Former United midfielder Jeff Hendrick worked under Howe on Tyneside, but while he believes there will be interest in the ex-Magpies boss, he feels there is an even bigger job waiting.
England job touted as natural transition
“Eddie Howe’s stock was so high after leaving Newcastle,” said Kendrick. “Clubs are always going to be looking at him and what he's done for that club. I was there when he came in, the change he made and how he just grew the club into being a Champions League team and winning them some silverware was so impressive.
“There are going to be clubs looking at him, people have mentioned Spurs but De Zerbi has got that big contract now and they've signed all those players. I have a feeling that Spurs are going to give him time for that project he's built. I'd imagine they don't want to do the payoff if they were to get rid of him.
“Man Utd? Michael Carrick has been unlucky. Man United have been a bit up and down, but they were close to getting a couple more points on the board, and then you probably wouldn't even be talking about that.”
Instead, the former Magpies midfielder believes the top job in English football - in charge of the Three Lions - may be Howe's next port of call. Thomas Tuchel appears to have put behind him the controversy of the heartbreaking World Cup exit with a strong Nations League campaign, but Kendrick thinks Howe would be a perfect replacement for him when he does step down.
“For me, I think the natural transition for Eddie would have been possibly the England job,” he said speaking to BOYLE Sports. “I think with the way he builds the group and gets everyone together, it's a bit like what Gareth Southgate did, and he'd have that environment.
“That's where I personally would have thought his next step was, but you never know. If one of these big clubs do sack their manager, he'll definitely be in contention.”
