Newcastle kick-off the weekend’s Premier League action with a trip to Nottingham Forest on Friday. Eddie Howe gave his press conference ahead of the clash this morning. The head coach revealed he hopes to have the majority of his squad available but did stress a few players have missed training.
One of those is Callum Wilson, though Howe didn’t identify any players. The striker confirmed on the Footballers’ Football Podcast that he has missed training this week. Here is what he stated the following while referencing Alexander Isak:
“I’ve not trained in over a week now. So that’s why we have brought him to come into the team and not let it hamper when someone comes out.
“That’s what we’re trying to build, to get players who are almost as good as each other.
“It was a great performance from him [Isak]! But as someone who plays in his position you’re thinking ‘ah it’s going to take me another week to get back in’.”
This is nothing new for Wilson, who missed training towards the end of last week with an illness. He still managed to make a cameo in the 2-1 win against Wolves. It appears that Isak will be getting a second straight start with Wilson available from the bench.
Howe welcomes the competition as it keeps players on their toes. Miguel Almiron was also used from the bench last weekend with Howe confirming it was to rest the club’s leading goalscorer.
Howe said the following about squad rotation per Lee Ryder’s Twitter account:
“I’ve always said competition for places is key to sustaining results. We have that within the squad when everybody is fit. When we don’t, the squad is quite light in terms of bodies.
“I think it is vital you have the opportunity to do that (rest players) it is a long season with cups and Premier League, and also the way we play is demanding. We ask a lot of the players.”
Howe will be without at least three players with Emil Krafth, Anthony Gordon, and Joelinton ruled out. He still has plenty of options to make some changes but may opt to keep with the eleven that picked up the crucial win last weekend.
Howe also revealed that Gordon’s injury is slightly worse than expected. The Shields Gazette has published the following from Howe on the January signing:
“The scan wasn’t plain sailing, it wasn’t a shoe-in. It wasn’t a week or two injury.
“It’s slightly more serious than that, so we’re doing everything we can to get him back as quickly as possible.
“At the moment he’s in a period where he’s staying off the grass, staying off his feet, and the injury’s healing. It feels good, but he’s got work to do to get ready for that game.”
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215 comments so far
investinyouthtoon
Mar 16, 2023 at 10:15 AM
Comment #1I agree in prev thread re Brighton. I also thought recently they Fulham may well pip us too, however they seem to have stalled past couple of games.
Hoping for a win tomorrow, however will sit on the fence and say a score draw.
HWTL
investinyouthtoon
Mar 16, 2023 at 10:15 AM
Comment #2I agree in prev thread re Brighton. I also thought recently they Fulham may well pip us too, however they seem to have stalled past couple of games.
Hoping for a win tomorrow, however will sit on the fence and say a score draw…
HWTL
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Mar 16, 2023 at 10:18 AM
Comment #3I agree in prev thread re Brighton. I also thought recently they Fulham may well pip us too, however they seem to have stalled past couple of games.
Hoping for a win tomorrow, however will sit on the fence and say a score draw…
HWTL
🙂
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Mar 16, 2023 at 10:25 AM
Comment #4@Scott
I suppose you could say Brighton haven’t really been a fashionable club until the last 2 or 3 seasons
I mean even when they came up with us the football they played under Hughton was horrible in the end
I remember reading an article about Ashworth chasing Nunez twice and losing out before he eventually went to Liverpool so it does look like they have always been in for players but just haven’t been able to pull it off
Their owner Bloom is also a very smart guy and what they are doing is working
I mean this could be the summer where they can finally sign a few established guys but I actually think they will just continue the way they have unearthing gems except they will be at the front of the queue for a lot of players especially because De Zerbi will have a list of guys he will want also
ToonDarnSarf
Mar 16, 2023 at 10:26 AM
Comment #5I’m not thinking about Fulham, Brighton, or Brentford catching us. We need to get the points to overtake Spurs and/or Man Utd, if we do that I think we’ll get top 4. I know that’s going to be tough but I’m sure that’s the focus. If we fall just short then we’ll finish in 5th or 6th, which is good too.
Spurs and/or Man Utd would have to royally screw up for Fulham, Brighton, or Brentford to catch them. I still think it’s likely to be between Spurs, Man Utd, Liverpool and us for 3rd and 4th.
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Mar 16, 2023 at 10:27 AM
Comment #6Bottom line is if we want to be a champions league team we need to be going all out for the win against Forest
I was quite surprised at how open and high a line that Wolves were playing I don’t expect Forest to play like that more like Bournemouth so we do need to try find a way through that
I think having guys like Willock and Bruno willing to get into the box can disrupt a parked bus although it will be interesting seeing Colback and Shelvey up against our midfield!
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Mar 16, 2023 at 10:27 AM
Comment #7https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-11865225/Sheffield-Wednesday-remarkably-CHALLENGED-capacity-reduction-order-placed-them.html
scott
Mar 16, 2023 at 10:48 AM
Comment #8LCBP/TDS
Yeah I hadn’t thought about how “fashionable “ a club they are but someone like a Wilson (at the time he came here) or an ings (at the time he went to Villa I think would go there but iv no idea what the wage structure is like!
I even think someone like Solanke would be a good fit for them!
A 15/20 goal striker is all they are missing imo!
Adamn_92
Mar 16, 2023 at 10:49 AM
Comment #9Good to see that Isak is basically guarantee’d to start tomorrow night, think a run of games for him will help him reach full fitness and we’ll see him hit a great run of form. His pace will also be a great strength to play on the break, plus I don’t think Forest’s center halves are particularly great on the ball, so his closing down could lead to mistakes from them.
Really hope we go with the same 11, Isak, Murphy, ASM and Willocks pace breaking forward could be lethal. Forest will attack and their games seem to be very open. Our defence is solid enough to keep them out and the players mentioned above have great pace to make them pay on the counter.
ToonDarnSarf
Mar 16, 2023 at 10:55 AM
Comment #10Scott – yeah, those seem the right kind of players that they could sign, although I suspect they won’t go if they have an opportunity to join a bigger club or get paid more elsewhere.
I think they’re great for younger players and/or players from abroad who want to make a name for themselves in the PL. They prove they’re a good PL player and then they can move to a bigger club, just as Cucerella and Trossard have done with surely Mac Alister to follow this summer.
I suspect Ings and Wilson will be being paid more than anyone currently at Brighton.
Raj of Hailsley
Mar 16, 2023 at 10:56 AM
Comment #11Adamn_92,
I just hope Sweden to flog him for 2 x 90 in their qualifiers.
investinyouthtoon
Mar 16, 2023 at 10:58 AM
Comment #12As long as Pope doesn’t have a moment of madness and we get punished for it.
ToonDarnSarf
Mar 16, 2023 at 11:10 AM
Comment #13Taco – have you mothers that in FPL you’ve got 10 fewer points than the team in last place in our H2H league and 169 fewer than me but somehow you’re in 4th and 2 places above me! Mad
Also, Davas has the lowest points score in the whole division by 85 points yet he’s sitting pretty in 8th!
Fun and games…
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Mar 16, 2023 at 11:12 AM
Comment #14TDS. Goal difference does not count.
a 1-0 win followed by 10-0 loss still gets you 3 points in 2 games.
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Mar 16, 2023 at 11:16 AM
Comment #15Beat your opposition, and then worry about other things. Sun Tzu (approximately).
ToonDarnSarf
Mar 16, 2023 at 11:16 AM
Comment #16Pug – I am aware but it’s not like real football where some teams play very attacking but risky football whereas others are happy to get 1-0 up and then shut up shop. That’s unless players are playing incredibly tactically in H2H and constantly trying to counter the opponent based on the last team they put out…not too many people do that though, they just try to score as many points as possible.
WLtoon
Mar 16, 2023 at 11:18 AM
Comment #17Gasp, shock, horror, Wilson is injured AGAIN
Time to move him on for a younger , hungrier more reliable replacement.
There is no sentiment in this game, not if you want a team challenging for European places.
Always liked Wilson but it`s time to call it a day with him.
Watch out for Brighton, they could well take a top 5 slot, especially if they beat us in the 6 pointer up here, that is a must win game imo.
They are a great side to watch and trounced Liverpool recently so they have their tails up..
It would be great to see us AND Brighton knock one of the greedy 6 off a European perch, i mean, just think of the excuses Klopp will make.
`We can`t match Brighton`s spending`.
Hahahaha
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Mar 16, 2023 at 11:19 AM
Comment #18TDS, it looks to me, as an outsider who does not partake, that is exactly what is happening. Get the win, get the points, ignore points differential.
Raj of Hailsley
Mar 16, 2023 at 11:21 AM
Comment #19Nobody can complain about the injustice of the H2H league, if you want to play a points only league then the main league is there for that, I set the H2H up for a bit of fun to make each GW more interesting and to try and attract more posters to the blog.
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Mar 16, 2023 at 11:23 AM
Comment #20What? Wilson is injured again? He has more injuries than me and I have had more injuries than the guy who has the 2nd most injuries.
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Mar 16, 2023 at 11:24 AM
Comment #21Jail 🙂
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Mar 16, 2023 at 11:26 AM
Comment #22Sun Tzu, confuse your opponent.
ToonDarnSarf
Mar 16, 2023 at 11:26 AM
Comment #23Why do you seem to think I’m complaining? Do you really think I see FPL as important enough in my life to complain about it? I literally described it as “fun and games” because that’s exactly what it is.
A discussion and a bit of banter about it aligns exactly with the reasons you stated for setting up the leagues Raj.
The Taco Taker
Mar 16, 2023 at 11:27 AM
Comment #24TDS, it is because I setup each week just to win my H2H and it appears to be working. Beat you in both H2H games. Points don’t win promotion winning games does.
🙂
Raj of Hailsley
Mar 16, 2023 at 11:29 AM
Comment #25I’m not saying you were complaining TDSarf, I have however seen people complain that it’s not fair that they have x amount of points and are near the bottom and so and so has x amount less and are near the top.
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Mar 16, 2023 at 11:29 AM
Comment #26TDS, Jail just used “complain” as a general word. He has explained the H2H leagues.
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Mar 16, 2023 at 11:30 AM
Comment #27TTT are you asking blog for my email address or vice-versa?
ToonDarnSarf
Mar 16, 2023 at 11:32 AM
Comment #28Taco – aha! You do play tactically! 🙂 I’ve been trying to compete in both leagues and I guess it’s not as easy to do both. I’d love to finish in the top 10 of the points league and the top 5 of the H2H league.
In a few points leagues with other people so can’t just focus on H2H for this one unfortunately…
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Mar 16, 2023 at 11:33 AM
Comment #29JohnJ already in.
ToonDarnSarf
Mar 16, 2023 at 11:34 AM
Comment #30Raj – fair enough. It’s fair because those are the rules and they apply the same to everyone. Literally a definition of fair.
I’d assume overall points are a tiebreaker so it’s still a benefit.
Raj of Hailsley
Mar 16, 2023 at 11:37 AM
Comment #31I was going to introduce play-off places for overall points after automatic promotion but I have stood down from the board and no longer have an input on the rules and regulations. It is in the hands of scythe and the excellent Wor B.
Davas
Mar 16, 2023 at 11:40 AM
Comment #32My Fpl tactics are that I have no tactics.
I was top at the world cup break using these (non) tactics but lost interest after that for a while and didn’t bother with the WC WC or change my team.
I spend minimal time on it and don’t plan ahead with transfers, very rarely, if ever take a minus score and don’t read articles or listen to podcasts as people just end up with similar teams.
Just a bit of fun for me and the H2H has actually kept my interest more than the points league. 🙂
Raj of Hailsley
Mar 16, 2023 at 11:40 AM
Comment #33Talking of Wor B, has anyone seen him or Romford Mag lately?
ToonDarnSarf
Mar 16, 2023 at 11:42 AM
Comment #34Davas – I don’t watch podcasts either. I know some people do but that’s taking things too seriously for me. I spend a small amount of time trying to figure out tactics and then just see how things work out. I’m sure I could listen to those podcasts and get really analytical on the stats but that seems too much like work to me…
The Taco Taker
Mar 16, 2023 at 11:43 AM
Comment #35Pug,
Neil sent me your email address last night. Will drop you an email later today.
TDS,
yeah I have been playing just to try to get into the top division. That was the little goal I set myself at the start of the season
Davas
Mar 16, 2023 at 11:50 AM
Comment #36Tds
For me, it’s often been a last minute thing so I haven’t even looked at which teams they are playing against. I’ve recently tried a trick from Raj, to save a team at the beginning of the week in case I forget later on.
ToonDarnSarf
Mar 16, 2023 at 11:52 AM
Comment #37Davas – I often do that too. I set my team as early as possible in the week as I’ve forgotten to make changes a few times and at least I have an ok team that way. I’ve still forgotten completely a couple of times though!
Rotonda heights
Mar 16, 2023 at 11:54 AM
Comment #38As good as Wilson has been when fully fit, I really hope we’re not daft enough to give him another contract.
The overrated Frenchman
Mar 16, 2023 at 11:57 AM
Comment #39Brighton under Hughton were a better team than us the year we both came up. They deserved to win the Championship but just ran out of steam at the end because of their small squad
Raj of Hailsley
Mar 16, 2023 at 11:58 AM
Comment #40It’s essential you set your ‘bus’ team the minute deadline has passed, a bus team is called so in case you get hit by a bus, say on Monday and you haven’t changed your captain, can you imagine the panic when waking from your coma, knowing you had Kane away to Man City as captain instead of Salah at home to Soton 😮