Howe immediately set about imprinting his methods at Newcastle. His working day would begin at 6am and he would often not finish until late into the evening.

Players’ days off were reduced while training sessions were brought forward to an earlier time and became more intense.

“Jonjo Shelvey said that when Howe first came in he would be so tired by the training that he would be in bed by 8pm,” BBC Radio Newcastle’s Matthew Raisbeck said.

“The players were shattered but he made them fitter, he made them better individually and he made the team better.”

Newcastle United defender Dan Burn said that while training was much more intense, he found it enjoyable.

“What I find crazy about the gaffer’s training is that we never seem to do the same session twice,” he told BBC Radio 5 Live.

“He has so many sessions saved and every single day is something completely new. I really enjoy training and it’s something I look forward to every day.”

According to Burn, Howe quickly instilled an “us against the world” mentality and that, combined with the rapidly improving fitness, resulted in Newcastle’s form improving.

Newcastle finished 11th in the Premier League, 14 points clear of the relegation zone after being cut adrift when Howe came in.

Utilising the methods of man management he learned from O’Driscoll and Wooden, Howe got to know each and every one of his players – their personalities and what makes them tick.

“First and foremost he wants to know how you are as a person rather than as just a footballer, that’s what sets him above other managers I’ve worked under,” Burn told Newcastle’s official website.

Midfielder Sean Longstaff said: “I am a dad now and you can speak to him about advice and stuff.

“He pulled me in once and gave me a book that he gave to his children. It is more the part that people don’t see, it is why I love him so much.”