Exclusive: 'You can see the impact it's had' - Eddie Howe hails Lionesses ahead of World Cup final

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe, speaking exclusively to TNT Sports, says the success of the Lionesses has reverberated "up and down the country" as he hailed their impact on the sport.

England face a Sydney showdown with Spain on Sunday as they appear in the nation's first World Cup final since 1966, having beaten hosts Australia in the semi-finals.

It's part of a wider run of success for England teams at all levels, with most recently the men's Under-21 side winning the European Championships last month - with Howe's Newcastle winger Anthony Gordon taking home the Player of the Tournament award - and Sarina Wiegman's Lionesses winning the women's Euros last summer at Wembley.

"I think it's amazing to see," Howe told TNT Sports.

"I was there when they [the Lionesses] won the Euros at Wembley, it was a brilliant occasion, brilliant atmosphere.

"You can see the impact it's had on young girls playing the game up and down the country.

"The interest now is huge in the women's game and I think that's great to see for everyone.

"It's great to see England doing well at all levels, winning youth cups, it's fantastic to see, I'm a very proud Englishman and I want the national teams, regardless of who's competing, to do well.

Adding a prediction for Sunday's final, Howe said: "I'm really hoping for an England win, it will be great to see us win a World Cup.

"After the Euros as well, it would be an amazing achievement."

Howe has his own batch of English men's stars under his wing at Newcastle, among them Gordon, Harvey Barnes and Joe Willock.

As well as fighting for starting spots and honours on Tyneside, the young trio have the carrot of a European Championships at the end of this season, and possible places in Gareth Southgate's England squad.

"I think it should be in their minds but very much in the back," Howe said. "At the forefront should be us and the various competitions we have.

"I always believe for players a short-term view, but always with that long-term vision in the back of their heads that if they can play well, for me that should be an added motivation, an added driver for them to achieve everything they possibly can.

"I believe those three players are good enough to get into that squad, but they've got to show it throughout the season."

Gordon, 22, has had an impressive 2023 so far, turning in some fine displays for Newcastle and then starring at the Under-21 Euros in Romania and Georgia.

"In terms of his level, for me it's very difficult to put a ceiling on what he can achieve because of his age," Howe said.

"I feel there's a lot more improvement to come from him in different aspects of his game.

"But I think he's got those raw ingredients that make him an incredibly exciting player to watch. He's got pace, he's got technical ability, he's got lovely balance and I think he's got a really good football brain as well.

"So I'm hoping that he can have a really good season and carry on from where he left off this summer."

TNT Sports is available across all major TV platforms, offering a line-up of up to four TV channels (TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports 2, TNT Sports 3, TNT Sports 4), and up to six digital or red-button channels (TNT Sports 5 to 10), and TNT Sports Ultimate plus TNT Sports Box Office HD.

Man City v Newcastle will be live on TNT Sports 1 from 19.00 UK time on Saturday, 19 August.

You can subscribe to TNT Sports through discovery+, BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media.

- - -

TNT Sports presents the premium live sports rights previously carried by BT Sport including the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League, Gallagher Premiership Rugby, Heineken Champions Cup, EPCR Challenge Cup, MotoGP, Cricket, UFC, Boxing and WWE. The streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK is discovery+, where fans can enjoy a subscription that includes TNT Sports, Eurosport and entertainment in one destination. You can also watch TNT Sports through BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media.