Eddie Howe is adopting a “wait and see” strategy to the health of Alexander Isak, Kieran Trippier and Anthony Gordon forward of Monday night time’s journey to Leicester.
Isak and Trippier have been each taken off within the 2-1 win over Brentford on Wednesday night time whereas Gordon sustained a heavy knock whereas on worldwide responsibility with England and missed the midweek recreation at St James’ Park.
On top-scorer Isak and full-back Trippier, Howe mentioned: “Wait and see at present, actually. In fact, I had medical updates yesterday however I’ll see them for the primary time at present. Hopefully they’re feeling okay. I don’t assume we’ve any large accidents from Wednesday night time, however we’ve actually acquired a couple of niggles so let’s wait and see.”
Eddie Howe’s team-news forward of Monday:
“We’ll wait and see at present, I’ll see them [Kieran Trippier and Alexander Isak] for the primary time at present. We don’t assume we’ve any large accidents from Wednesday night time, however we’ve a couple of niggles. We’re monitoring Anthony [Gordon], he’s… pic.twitter.com/RoL50fGbWa
— Newcastle United (@NUFC) April 4, 2025
On Gordon, he added: “He hasn’t but [returned to full training]. One other one we’re monitoring. We expect he’s nonetheless recovering from a extremely unhealthy knock he acquired for England, he’s nonetheless acquired enormous bruising on his leg.
“He’s accomplished particular person coaching. He’s not accomplished group coaching. He’s nonetheless not feeling 100% ache free.”
Crammed fixture checklist may hamper Newcastle
Newcastle go into the weekend in sixth place in the Premier League and nonetheless hoping to safe a spot in subsequent season’s Champions League.
Howe is fearful, nevertheless, that his squad could wrestle to keep up their latest good kind, particularly with a crowded fixture checklist.
“Yeah, particularly with the variety of video games we’ve acquired in a brief time frame,” he added. “Now we have acquired three video games in six days [starting on April 13].
“That shall be a testing interval for us, however we’ve simply acquired to try to handle and navigate this era actually sensibly with the gamers that we do have match. We have to take care of all people. If we will get a superb, sturdy crew out on the pitch, we’re ok.”
Howe talks up midfield three
Newcastle’s energy lies within the targets of Isak and the midfield threesome of Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton and Sandro Tonali.
Requested if he felt the trio have been among the many finest midfields within the prime flight, Howe mentioned: “It’s troublesome for me to provide a definitive reply however simply these particular person gamers, all of them carry one thing completely different and once you speak about steadiness, that’s what you need.
“You need the creativity that Bruno can carry us, the nice decision-making that Sandro brings us and Joelinton’s bodily presence. Add that collectively and also you’ve acquired a bit little bit of the whole lot. Though you may assume that earlier than bringing them collectively, typically, you may’t measure the chemistry. Chemistry is simply as vital. That’s why you see some gamers play higher with others and typically there’s no logic behind it. It simply occurs as a result of the gamers categorical themselves in that approach collectively.
“They’re getting there. With each recreation, possibly, the understanding of one another will get higher and stronger.”
Howe insists Leicester are harmful regardless of woeful latest kind
On paper, a visit to Leicester ought to be a routine project with the Foxes having misplaced their final seven Premier League video games with out scoring however Howe insisted it will likely be a troublesome recreation on the King Energy Stadium.
“We all know they’re harmful, we all know they’ve good gamers,” he mentioned. “Jamie Vardy remains to be an enormous risk. He brings his distinctive qualities that we’re going to want to regulate. Ruud [van Nistelrooy] has acquired his crew enjoying good soccer so we’re going to must be on our guard. There’s no simple video games.”
Leicester are nineteenth within the Premier League desk, 12 factors adrift of security and seemingly heading for a direct return to the Championship.
