EDDIE Howe believes he'll be up against a Premier League all-time great when Jose Mourinho is stood in the opposition dugout at St James' Park tonight.

Howe had not yet embarked on his managerial career when Mourinho first took charge of Chelsea in 2004, but Newcastle's now boss looked on with immense admiration and described the Portuguese coach as a "visionary".

More than two decades have now passed, and Mourinho might well have managed in England for the last time after another spell at Chelsea and stints in charge of Manchester United and Tottenham, but Howe still has the utmost of respect for tonight's visiting boss.

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"He's someone that I hugely admire having come up against him before in the Premier League and I think as a younger coach, really admired the teams that he built at Chelsea in particular.

"Definitely a visionary, someone that broke the mould really in terms of how you manage and different ways to do things.

"And then following his success through different clubs, different leagues, incredible really what he what he's achieved in...