Right Said Fred: Howe favourite to take over as new England boss

If Gareth Southgate's successor is to be another Englishman as it should be then Eddie Howe is the clear standout candidate as far as I'm concerned.

He's the biggest mover in the market in to 2/1 favourite from 9/2  with Betfred for the job to take England to another level after our morale-sapping  Euros final defeat to Spain.

But the Newcastle United boss,  who cut his teeth at Bournemouth, faces tough competition from out of work ex-Brighton boss Graham Potter and England's highly successful under 21s coach Lee Carsley.

Potter is second favourite at 9/4 with Carsley 3/1 as both would be easier appointments to achieve as Howe is entrenched with the Magpies.

But it  can't be going quite as well  as he expected up in Geordieland with all the changes at the top and the fact Newcastle didn't match the season before and qualify for the Champions League.

So my message to Eddie is that your country needs you!

I'm not at all excited about Potter or Carsley - and if not Eddie and we cast our net further then what about Jurgen Klopp or even Pep Guardiola.

Either of them would represent a tremendous coup for the FA but I can't imagine they would fancy it. Betfred do have the distinguished duo right up there amongst our runners and riders with Klopp in to 8/1  for arguably the most demanding job in international football while City's excellent boss is on the slide out to 25/1.

Southgate decided to quit after a 102-game stint and will go down in history as the nearly man.

One thing I just can’t get my head around is this clamour in some quarters for Southgate to be knighted. For what? He's not won us anything despite having such a fine array of fantastic players who he failed to turn into a winning unit.

His substitutions were a case of too little too late. It was glaringly obvious to us all that our skipper Harry Kane was struggling for form throughout the tournament - and every time Cole Palmer came off the bench it dramatically  improved our chances. Yet he stuck with Kane throughout and didn't use Chelsea's ex City man enough. The Wythenshawe lad is in fact  one of the very few players who enhanced their reputations in Germany.

Here's Oldham-born Paul Sculthorpe's take on the latest in the Betfred Super League. The RL legend, who is a Betfred TV expert pundit, writes:

"Well, we called for a vastly improved performance as the Saints travelled over the hill to  Wigan -  and we certainly got it!

 "Yes, we still came off second best in the narrow 16-12 defeat, but in terms of effort and endeavour, and glimpses of the Saints style we know, a lot of the fans will have left the recently renamed Brick Community Stadium a lot more positive about what might be in prospect for the rest of the season.

"Both teams were missing a number of first choice stars, and were putting their faith in the youth, and neither team disappointed. It was probably the best Betfred Super League game I’ve watched this year.

Two of these youngsters, both playing full back for their respective teams, Wigan’s Zach Eckersley and St Helens debutant Harry Robertson were excellent.

"Eckersley, son of my Oldham mate and former Warrington teammate Chris Eckersley, was probably the best player on the park. He was a constant threat to the Saints defence, breaking the line to set up Jake Wardle for Wigan’s first try, before crossing the whitewash himself for the deciding four pointer in the 68th minute.

"Robertson, the 18 year old former Halton Farnworth product, showed on the big stage he’s got the tools to go all the way in the game.

"He came up with a big defensive play to hold up Wardle, before doing what great full backs do ie supporting through the middle, getting on the end of a Curtis Sironen break, before showing the composure to put Jack Welsby under the posts for the opening try.

"After a bit of a nervy start, understandably, he really looked like he was enjoying himself out there and was a constant threat in the Saints attack. Also, you could see in his post match interview on Sky he doesn’t lack confidence!

"It was great to see two new exciting stars of the future burst onto the Betfred Super League scene. If they’re good enough, they’re old enough that's my philosophy.

"As per last week's column, our coach Paul Wellens stuck to his word and made changes to his side. The obvious one, stepping down Lewis Dodd and moving Welsby into the halves.

"This certainly created a lot more attacking threat from the Saints, albeit still far from clinical in the final third of the field. But, what we did see, as I called for last week…more direct ‘to and through’ attack.

"With this, on the back of the excellent Sironen backed up by Lees and Delaney we got to see what a threat Daryl Clark can be. He made numerous breaks from dummy half on the back of some good ruck speed. While on about good performers, yet again Mark Percival run his blood to water with a huge game.

"Waqa Blake scored in the corner on the 57th minute after again great work from Sironen to put Saints back in front at 12-6, before some good Wigan skill saw Adam Keighran level the scores three minutes later. Eckersley was to prove the difference with his try ten minutes from time, to get Wigan the win and move four points clear at the top of the table with a game in hand.

"Sadly Saints drop to fourth, behind Friday's opponents Warrington and third-placed Hull KR who yet again took the points in the Hull derby.

"So to Friday, and the pressure is back on us to come up with a big performance against the Wolves, and avoid a fourth straight defeat.

"Wello spoke positively after the Wigan game, and how the performance could be a ‘blue print’ going forward.

"I 100% agree, and with a bit more composure in good ball, asking a few more questions of the opposition defence we won’t be far off.

"Priority  against the Wolves, who themselves I think have been inconsistent and mentally soft at times, Saints have to be ruthless and aggressive.

This starts with disciplined defensive line speed, getting in the faces of George Williams, Matt Dufty and Co.

"With the ball, continue where we left off at Wigan and keep playing direct, with quick ruck speed and bodies in motion at all times.

"This is going to be a close game as always between these two teams, with us surprisingly  odds on favourites with Betfred, probably as we're  at home and desperately need the two points.

"I’m going to say Saints to get back on track at the TWS, and win by more than six points which is 5/4 with title sponsors Betfred."

Finally my congratulations to a Chinese takeaway shop chef who  has won £125,000 with us from two wagers totalling just seven pounds.

Malaysian born Kah Hin Liew, a 58 year old father of one is a regular at our shop in Queen Street, Wrexham.

Opting for the numbers 8,18,23,26 and 39  on the 49s game, he won £25,000 from a fiver when four of his selections were drawn.

And then £100,000 when he bet a further £2   - and he smashed the odds when all five of his regular numbers  based around his house number and family birthdays were drawn.

He said: "I have stuck with the same numbers for over ten years and I'm so glad I did. It's easily my biggest ever win. My wife and I are still in a state of shock. 

"We can now have a nice retirement after going on holiday to celebrate. We have not made up our mind yet but we'll probably go somewhere in Asia such as Thailand where she was born."

What a cracking return! To win so much from just  £7 is extraordinary and proves you can win big from small stakes at Betfred.