BARELY had Eddie Howe sat down before he was confronting questions over his future.

But so accustomed is the Cherries boss to the routine that all his answers to the England questions were ready, well-rehearsed and consistent.

"I'm absolutely committed here. I love the job. I've got a lot more work to do here first," he said.

Howe has plenty of supporters for the Three Lions role and that is why he has been repeatedly asked about it in recent months. The expectation is that he will always pledge loyalty to the club to which he has given so much and once again, he did not disappoint.

What was perhaps more impressive was the manner in which Howe dealt with other questions.

First up was Sam Allardyce's departure from the hot seat, a tricky subject at the best of times.

"It was very disappointing and very sad. When someone loses their job for non-footballing reasons, I think it's a real shame... I'm really saddened for English football because the team will suffer from this point."

An honest answer. It would have been easy for Howe not to comment but he faced it head on. And that was not an end to the heavier subjects.

The Telegraph's allegation that eight current and former managers stood accused of receiving bungs was next up. Howe was asked outright if he had ever been offered one.

"Certainly not," was the polite reply. "The structure at this football club is that I pick the players with the recruitment team and then someone else does the financial deals with the agents and deals with contracts et cetera. I am removed from the financial dealings with the football club and it suits me that way."

Some managers would have bristled at the line of questioning but Howe did not. He is too clever for that. Answer the question and move on. He knows that is all he needs to do.

This was a day for a football club and its supporters to feel proud. If a manager is being linked with what is – in many people's eyes – the top job in the country, he must be doing something right. Indeed, he must be doing quite a lot of things right.

But the pride should go further than that. That Howe has managed to tread the line between respecting the England role ("it is the ultimate") and respecting the club which employs him is to be applauded.

Cherries have a man in charge who feels he is lucky to be there yet also has a fierce ambition to make himself the best he can be. It is the perfect balance.

And of course he would not discount the possibility of the England job in future. Why would he? Howe is a young manager with his career before him, refusing to close doors that do not need to be closed.

And until the point he eventually leaves Vitality Stadium, Cherries fans should not feel worried or concerned – just proud.