Antonio Conte highlights Newcastle United's 'really important prospect' ahead of Tottenham Hotspur visit

Howe has helped guide Newcastle from the foot of the Premier League to 14th in the table and nine points clear of the relegation zone with nine games remaining going into Sunday’s clash at Spurs (4:30pm kick-off).

And Conte has praised the 44-year-old’s work in helping to transform the club in a short period of time.

“I think for sure Newcastle is another team now,” he said in his pre-match press conference. “I know well the Newcastle manager. We played against him when he was the manager with Bournemouth.

"He's a young manager but you can see his idea about football. I think that he's a really important prospect as a manager.”

Prior to Howe and Conte’s respective appointments, Newcastle were beaten 3-2 by Spurs at St James’s Park earlier in the season.

But The Magpies’ positive transfer window and a nine game unbeaten run between December and March has made other teams sit up and take notice in spite of consecutive defeats against Chelsea and Everton.

"Newcastle signed good players during the transfer window and now for sure they're another team,” Conte added. “We have to pay great attention on Sunday.

"They lost the two games but before they got points with all teams, low, medium or top teams. So for this reason we have to pay great attention.

"It won't be an easy game but we know this and we have tried to prepare very well for the game.

"We know that from now on, there are nine games and for us it's very important to get three points because we want to finish as high as possible in this league.”

Newcastle are unbeaten in their two visits to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Picking up a 1-0 win in 2019 courtesy of Joelinton’s first goal for the club and drawing 1-1 last season thanks to a late Callum Wilson penalty.

Spurs currently sit fifth in the Premier League, 20 points ahead of Newcastle in 14th and just three points behind bitter rivals Arsenal in the final Champions League spot.

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