Howe says he remains "100 per cent" committed to Newcastle and is working closely with United officials "to try and take the club forward in the smartest way possible".
Howe has come under increased pressure since the second defeat of the season to Sunderland, which left the Magpies languishing in 12th in the Premier League table and clinging to their hopes of playing European football next tier ahead of Sunday's trip to Crystal Palace.
Speaking to the media during the three-week stoppage, Hopkinson said he "doesn't have a stance" on Howe's future, adding: "We'll talk about the future when it's time".
Despite those comments, which fuelled further talk about Howe's position, the head coach insists he has a strong and healthy working relationship with Hopkinson and sporting director Ross Wilson.
And all three are on the same page when it comes to planning for the future.
He said: "There have certainly been no fallings out. I’ve got a very good relationship with Ross and David.
"We’re plotting to try and take the club forward in the smartest way possible. I’ve had really good support from both of them and they are the key figures I work with day to day at the club.
"We’re all totally aligned on what we need to do. The long-term prospects for the football club, I think, are really strong.
"But certainly these seasons we’ve experienced previously, we’re probably ahead (of schedule). Not all the forces are with us. We’re going to have to act really smart and try to out-perform the budget to hit the levels that everyone wants."
Asked what needs to be right for Howe to carry on next season, the head coach said: "What do I need? Just that, I need support. Good working relationships with the people around me. A feeling of being able to express myself in the best way possible so you see the best version of myself.
"If I feel that, and the club feels that, then they’re getting the best manager they can from myself.
"Obviously, if that’s not working for whatever reason, on both sides, then it’s best for the football club, which is the most important thing in all of this, that is Newcastle United, not me or anybody else, it’s Newcastle.
"I will always reflect that in my decision making. I will put the club before anybody."
Howe added: "For me nothing has changed. I'm 100% committed to the job. That commitment has never wavered from my side.
"I've been working during the break to come back a stronger team. In this day and age it's difficult to look too far into the long term."
Hopkinson revealed that he'd met with Howe in the aftermath of the home defeat to Sunderland.
But Howe said: "It was all constructive. It was not necessarily a meeting about Sunderland. It was a planned meeting about the future and about making sure that we are aligned as a football club and we know what we need to do going ahead into the future to make sure we are successful long-term.
"As I told you, David, Ross - we're all aligned, we know it is not easy, and the conditions for us are going to be challenging ahead.
"But I think with smart planning and good work we can still be successful."
Howe says it never crossed his mind to seek guarantees about his own position and future in light of Hopkinson's comments.
"Absolutely not - I don't need assurances from anybody," he said.
"I have got to do my work and I have to make sure the team is successful. No, we have spoken and had communication but not about those comments."
Newcastle were booed off after the defeat to Sunderland and Howe has come under increased pressure from a section of supporters.
Asked what his message would be to fans who have lost faith, he said: "I'd always say to any supporter that genuinely supports the team, just back the players when they're playing.
"Throw your full weight and support behind them because it's obviously a very tough sport. We're at the elite level and I think the players need to feel that love and support to be at their best.
"I think the supporters have been magnificent in that respect for us all season. I think they've seen the challenges that we've faced. The majority have understood just the last run of games we had, the level of opposition, the frequency of games. It was tough for the players at the end of that spell.
"Yes, we've made mistakes. Yes, we haven't been at our best consistently. We accept that. But I think in the main, the supporters have been really, really good with us. But of course, that's not unconditional. We know that they're not going to blindly support us if we're not performing consistently. So now there's a big responsibility in the next seven games to up our level."