Howard`s Way for Rams at Newcastle

Howard`s Way for Rams at Newcastle

When a young Steve Howard stood on the terraces at St James` Park he dreamed of playing in the black and white stripes for his beloved Newcastle United.

But today the Geordie striker will see his dreams come true, but he will not be in his beloved Magpies` colour, he will run out in the Rams colours today at St James' Park.

Howard is really looking forward to the game and it would be even better if he`s selected in the starting line up. He said: "I had a season ticket at St James'Park for years and loved watching the likes of Peter Beardsley, Les Ferdinand and Alan Shearer.

'But after starting off with Tow Law, I spent most of my career in the lower leagues with Hartlepool, Northampton and Luton Town, and I have never had the chance to play at Newcastle.

'Obviously when Derby was promoted the first thing I looked for when the fixtures came out was when we would be playing at St James's Park.

'Well it's Sunday, and while it has been a long wait, I hope to make it worthwhile in front of all my family if selected.

'I only had two ambitions in the whole of my career; one was to play at Wembley, which I achieved in the play-off final against West Brom at the end of last season. The other dream was to run out at St James's Park.

'And while I didn't score at Wembley, I would love to do just that at Newcastle on Sunday.

'After all, I scored against Manchester United at Old Trafford in our last away match, so why not against Newcastle at St James's Park.'

The big striker has been linked with a move away from Pride Park, and the 31-year-old has been linked with a January move to Wolves and Fulham, who were keen on the target man during the summer transfer window, and Rams boss Paul Jewell has revealed clubs have enquired about him.

'We've had calls from clubs who want to know what we are going to be doing with Steve in January,' said Jewell in the Derby Evening Telegraph.

'Steve scored his first goal of the season at Old Trafford on Saturday and, hopefully, he can now go on a roll and play a part in keeping us up.

'I've only been here two weeks and I see everybody playing a part. I have told the players to show me in training and in the matches that they should be in the team.'