The midfielder won't be seen until May due to a thigh injury, but contract talks have resumed.
Howe said, "That's always been in my mind as an absolute priority, to try to get him to stay at the club long-term. I see that as hugely important."
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He added: "Yes, I think we've missed Joe's qualities. Especially physically, his robustness, his abilities in duels, set-plays for and against.
"We're very lucky to have a midfielder that's as big as he is and as competitive as he is, and whenever you lose those qualities, you notice when they're not there. He's a very unusual midfielder, really, a prototype. You don't get many like him and it's certainly been missed, what he can bring."