There have been plenty of heated discussions in the pair’s shared office over the years.
“JT is not the type of assistant manager who is just going to nod his head and agree with everything Ed says,” Fletcher said. “It’s not so much that he disagrees, but he gives him a different opinion.
“Ed has the final say, 100%, but JT is his right-hand man and is there with the other coaches to give a different perspective on things, whether it be formation or personnel.
“He’s always been at the forefront of giving his opinion and Ed really takes his perception on things very seriously.”
This dynamic – and the pair’s contrasting personalities – have contributed to their partnership standing the test of time.
Aside from a brief break, when Tindall stepped up to manage Bournemouth, following Howe’s departure in 2020, they have been side by side on the touchline for a staggering 766 competitive games.
Such is the trust Howe has in Tindall and his staff that when the Newcastle head coach was hospitalised with pneumonia less than a year ago he made the conscious decision to give them full responsibility.
“It’s over to you,” he told Tindall.
Tindall did not just have step up on the training ground alongside fellow assistant Graeme Jones – he suddenly found himself thrust in front of journalists at news conferences.
Some outsiders may have expected Tindall to make outlandish headline-grabbing statements but again, contrary to the persona, the softly-spoken Londoner was anything but box office.
Tindall, Jones and the rest of Howe’s staff were instead focused on maintaining standards behind the scenes, imploring the players to put in performances that would make the head coach proud.
Newcastle won their next two games impressively, hammering Manchester United and Crystal Palace by a combined scoreline of 9-1.
They were well-beaten in Tindall’s final match in interim charge, against Aston Villa, but Howe’s side were still on track to qualify for the Champions League by the time the head coach returned to the dugout for the run-in.
It showcased the value of Tindall, Jones, first-team coaches Stephen Purches and Simon Weatherstone, and Howe’s wider staff.
This has been a more challenging domestic season for Newcastle, who are languishing in 12th place in the table, after fighting on multiple fronts.
But Tindall was among those namechecked by Lewis Hall as the left-back discussed the defensive strides he had made on the eve of keeping Barcelona talisman Lamine Yamal quiet from open play earlier this week.
“He’s been a massive help,” he added.