Eddie Howe used Erik ten Hag's words to motivate his Newcastle players to beat Man United

Eddie Howe used a rare but genius tactic to motivate his Newcastle United players ahead of their win over Manchester United last season.

Erik ten Hag's side ended a six-year trophy drought courtesy of goals from Casemiro and Marcus Rashford but high-flying Newcastle were out to avenge that defeat at St James' Park.

And footage from the four-part Amazon Prime series 'We Are Newcastle' shows just how Howe got his players up for the occasion.

Mikel Arteta and Jesse Marsch had also made similar points in the past but Howe elected to use it as fuel to the fire as he deems anger to be a positive emotion.

Addressing his players in the dressing room, he told them, "My final message today. I'm going to do something that I rarely do.

"But I felt upon hearing the comments, I needed to relay it you. So comments from their manager: 'They have the lowest of play time in the league and are quite successful at slowing the game down.

"'It's an annoying team to play against so we have to find a way to play against them. So it's up to us that we get the speed in the game and we also dependant on the refereeing as well.'

"Why am I telling you that? If they want a quick game, coming here, let's f***ing give it to them. Let's blow them away with our running. Let's be intense in every action we do. Let's make it a quick game. Let's go."

There was a roar amongst the Newcastle players after Howe finished his rousing speech and the pep talk paid dividends.

It was one of their best performances in a season where they qualified for the Champions League after 20 years away.