Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has acknowledged that his team has been plagued by injuries this season. The list of injured players includes Sven Botman, Alexander Isak, Harvey Barnes, Jacob Murphy, and Dan Burn, as well as Sandro Tonali, who is serving a long-term ban. Despite the challenges, Howe remains confident in the team’s ability to cope with the situation. He emphasized this during a press conference ahead of their upcoming match against Bournemouth, stating that although he has never experienced such a high number of absent players, they are still good enough to perform.
In their recent Champions League defeat against Borussia Dortmund, Newcastle suffered another blow when striker Callum Wilson was substituted at halftime due to a tight hamstring. Howe mentioned that they are conducting tests and will make a decision on his availability for the Bournemouth game based on his condition. Howe also provided updates on other injured players, including Alexander Isak, who has been sidelined for the past four games with a groin injury. Isak is progressing well in terms of his fitness levels, and the plan is for him to return after the international break. Winger Harvey Barnes is also nearing a comeback, while central defender Sven Botman is currently receiving treatment in the Netherlands, with Howe expecting to speak to him later.
Despite a difficult start to the Premier League season, Newcastle bounced back and are now unbeaten in their last seven league games. Howe commended the players for their resilience and character in overcoming the challenges they faced. He acknowledged that they were close to achieving better results in some matches but fell short. However, he expressed his satisfaction with their response and urged them to finish this period strongly against Bournemouth.
Newcastle will have to navigate their upcoming match without midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, who is suspended. However, Lewis Miley, a 17-year-old player who recently returned from illness, made a strong impression when he came on as a substitute in the game against Dortmund. Howe praised Miley’s performance and stated that he will play a significant role in the team’s future.
Currently sitting in sixth place in the Premier League table with 20 points, Newcastle will face Bournemouth, who are struggling in 18th place with only one league win this season.
