I realise that this is one game in but I liken Howe more (on how we moves) to a lead-up CHF/HFF.
See him more as a smarter version of Miller with better skills.
I think the Dunn, Bate and Newton experiment may be drawing to a close. Bate is paying the price for his lack of pace and fluctuating confidence, Dunn is paying the price for doing nothing for approx. 5 years of his stay here, and Newton is paying the price for being Newton.
Moving back to Howe, if he can do that role, as he did very well last week, Watts is freed up to do whatever it is that Bailey wants him to do - hopefully not loose man in defence...