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
Sir Pugalot, the Dutch Bulldog
Mar 16, 2023 at 1:40 PM
Comment #81Pug journey to the Whitley Bay.25th. 4 so far, anyone else?
Raj of Hailsley
Mar 16, 2023 at 1:45 PM
Comment #82ToF,
“Jail, you are right. Brighton did win that game”
No, we won both on an aggregate of 4-1.
Yes, ‘udders beat us on the second game of the season when we were finding our feet, we took them apart at their place in the return fixture.
Raj of Hailsley
Mar 16, 2023 at 1:46 PM
Comment #83DrGloom,
We beat them 1-2 at the Amex.
ToonDarnSarf
Mar 16, 2023 at 1:46 PM
Comment #842 of my 3 favourite seasons under Ashley were winning the Championship to get promoted again. We should never have been relegated but I’m glad our finances weren’t such a mess that made it very difficult to get promoted at the first attempt.
Both seasons were good achievements, even with the biggest budget in the league they were still good achievements from the players and the manager at the time.
Job done. Don’t know why anyone would have a negative view on those seasons.
The overrated Frenchman
Mar 16, 2023 at 1:46 PM
Comment #85Dr.Gloom, a weak comparison in my view. A very different time and competition
Adamn_92
Mar 16, 2023 at 1:47 PM
Comment #86tof
Ey?
Last 8 games we lost 2, drew 1 and won 5.
Go back even further and it’s the last 23 games that Champo season we lost 4 times, won 13 and drew 6.
What do you mean we should have won it weeks ago? We had a fantastic season, were top scorers in the league and would have won weeks ago if it wasn’t for Brighton also having a storming season. Not as if we really put a foot wrong at any point during the campaign?
magscar
Mar 16, 2023 at 1:48 PM
Comment #87Having watched Eddies’ Press conference (always a joy) I didn’t hear anything that suggested he’d be looking to change the winning starting team from Sunday
Mind you Eddie being Eddie that doesn’t mean he won’t – after all he doesn’t see these occasions as beng his opportunity to “brief” the media 🙂
I think the growing debate on whether it was time for Targett to come in for Dan Burn has quietened down after the latter’s sound display against Traore and Neto
Maxi in an away game in a tight ground with a probably baying home fan base ( til we quieten them down) would be Eddie’s main quandary and may be weighing up that starting position
So if Almiron were to start I guess could be for Maxi with latter being used as an impact sub?
Murphy keeps his place I reckon
It is important that we start well and stay on it for 90 +mins as they do score late goals at Home from behind ( Man City and Everton) and have a good recent record – which is there to be broken hopefully 🙂
If Brennan is out that will be a massive blow to them though
Shelvey will have mixed feelings I am sure but is a Professional. Whilst he’s a miss from squad the reality is he would not have displaced any of our midfield starting trio last Sunday nor tomorrow but might have figured from bench
Eddie as ever will be targeting a win and with a different confidence than say last away game – if we start as we did Sunday and manage game then he and we can be rewarded
Vask
Mar 16, 2023 at 1:50 PM
Comment #88NuFc being totally pants in the champo:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XlKpUcAHo3U
The overrated Frenchman
Mar 16, 2023 at 1:53 PM
Comment #89Anyway it’s just history now, I’ll let it go. I think the subject just came up because Brighton are continuing to over achieve given their resources
scott
Mar 16, 2023 at 1:59 PM
Comment #90My cunning fpl plan is three prong I sign the best players from Newcastle’s next opponents & captain them, they do terrible & Newcastle win so that’s a result!
Secondly my points total isn’t too bad so kind of a result?
Thirdly my league position is abysmal & has been abysmal all season although I’m currently on my phoenix from the flame mission so as far from a result as you will possibly get! 😀 😀
Toon fans bad
Mar 16, 2023 at 2:00 PM
Comment #91https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/newcastle-united/kader/verein/762/plus/0/galerie/0?saison_id=2022
Can’t say I disagree with any of those market values really.
Toon fans bad
Mar 16, 2023 at 2:02 PM
Comment #92Aye Vask, gash goal that mate, flukey 😆
ToonDarnSarf
Mar 16, 2023 at 2:09 PM
Comment #93ToF – the reason that Brighton have been doing so well is that they put fantastic structures and processes in place behind the scenes. They’re years ahead of us in that respect still as Ashley did the bare minimum. We’ve only been able to really get those things in place since the TO and with appointments like Ashworth and Eales.
Just think how much better we’ll be after a couple of years of changes behind the scenes.
DrGloom
Mar 16, 2023 at 2:19 PM
Comment #94Brighton have flirted with relegation in all but the past two seasons, it’s taken them years to reach upper half of EPL and I dare say that once a couple of the big teams swoop in and steal a couple of players they’ll struggle to maintain form ( they remind me of Southampton a few years back where they produced a lot of players but always lost them to ‘bigger teams’ )
ToonDarnSarf
Mar 16, 2023 at 2:22 PM
Comment #95Brighton even being in the PL is an excellent achievement for them. I agree with Gloom that they’ll struggle when a few key players leave. They’ve done very well but there’s also a bit of luck involved in players like Mac Alister and Mitoma developing the way they have. Can’t last forever…
DrGloom
Mar 16, 2023 at 2:22 PM
Comment #96Brighton also have the distraction of the F.A Cup, they’ll very likely beat Grimsby at the weekend which would put them into the semi-finals and could easily get the winner of Sheff Weds and Blackburn
CLINT FLICK
Mar 16, 2023 at 2:24 PM
Comment #97Dr G
I very much doubt that AG is ‘actually’ injured… it’s what coaches say to keep newbies in the shadows, learning the club ‘chops’… Eddie particularly likes to hold pkayers back and feed them in slowly.
Don’t ya think?
magscar
Mar 16, 2023 at 2:26 PM
Comment #98On the Championship Brighton if they hadn’t of “blown up” a bit in last few games that season the Grealish equaliser for Villa at home against them in closing minutes wouldn’t have mattered but they did and we became Champions
Yes there were easier on the eye ( as were Huddersfield) but when it mattered apart from home game against Hudders we did what what mattered
That Sunday afternoon against Barnsley still is a geat memory as crowd waited for match to finish as the equaliser had filtered through after our match had already finished and we knew what that meant! – then queue hysteria 🙂
Oddly our central midfield that day included Colback and Shelvey
ToonDarnSarf
Mar 16, 2023 at 2:28 PM
Comment #99Clint – I don’t believe that Howe is lying about Gordon being injured, not unless he’s covering for a serious personal and private issue but that seems unlikely.
If Gordon was still just being eased in, he’d be on the bench.
I think you’re looking for something that isn’t there this time…
magscar
Mar 16, 2023 at 2:31 PM
Comment #100As well as the possible distraction of FA cup run Brighton also have a few difficult games on the horizon against Spurs, Chelsea, Man City (and maybe Brentford should figure in that category?)
Adamn_92
Mar 16, 2023 at 2:37 PM
Comment #101Big few games coming up for us. Beat Forest tomorrow and we go into the international break off the back of 2 wins and feeling good. Then we have Manure to come to our place without Casemiro which is a huge miss for them. We win that and we would overtake Manure on goal difference and be on course to overtake Spurs shortly.
Win our next 2 matches and we’re back in top 4, potentially create a bigger gap to those behind us, are in a prime position to overtake Spurs due to games in hand and get good form going. It really would be in our hands then with games against Brentford to extend the gap coming up and Spurs to keep them at distance.
CLINT FLICK
Mar 16, 2023 at 2:39 PM
Comment #102Tds
Same thing happens over and over…
Psychology!
CLINT FLICK
Mar 16, 2023 at 2:41 PM
Comment #103Dunno ’bout you, mate…but, I’ll ‘let’ people believe anything if i don’t wanna give a plan away…just saying.
Adamn_92
Mar 16, 2023 at 2:43 PM
Comment #104Clint
I know you felt the same way about Isaks injury and we discussed it before, but just don’t think it makes sense when you look at in the bigger picture.
Other signings weren’t given that length of time to adjust or got ‘injuries’ that weren’t injuries as you suggest. Some like Botman were brand new to English football and even they were starting games after only a few sub appearances.
If they needed to be fed in slowly, makes more sense to give them some minutes off the bench rather than lie about an injury and not involve them at all for a few weeks don’t you think?
CLINT FLICK
Mar 16, 2023 at 2:44 PM
Comment #105Oh no!
International footbore!
Deep sigh!
🙁
Adamn_92
Mar 16, 2023 at 2:44 PM
Comment #106*look at it in
CLINT FLICK
Mar 16, 2023 at 2:46 PM
Comment #107Adamn
Botman is a slight exception, but, ad you say, from the bench…and only ‘cos he was absolutely needed as our backline sucked at that point.
All the others?
magscar
Mar 16, 2023 at 2:47 PM
Comment #108The sudden “ankle” injury was a bit of a late surprise but Eddie doesn’t like to give much away about team in his pressers
No one though had picked it up during or after the Man City game which seemed like there might be another answer
However it got mr thinking yesterday as I was out on my walk about an injury I once picked up whilst playing indoors 5-a-side one Saturday morning having gone over on ankle in last 20 mins or so but finished the game but took refuge in goal for last 5 as it was a little sore
Thought nothing more of it but next morning i was due to play in a different “over 35’s” team in a 5-a-side Sunday league and awoke to an unexpected very swollen ankle which i struggled to even get my trackie bottoms over!
I wouldn’t have bothered turning up but i was Captain and manager of our side and i got wor lass to drive me in (not happily!!)
yeah I know there is no comparison in playing level, age or ability BUT ankles are ankles and injury can definitely appear overnight
I don’t recall how long it lasted but more than a few days and maybe weeks?
At my age it’s a wonder i can remember it at all 🙂
ToonDarnSarf
Mar 16, 2023 at 2:47 PM
Comment #109Clint – Howe doesn’t need to lie to give Gordon a chance to bed in. He can just put him on the bench and give him as many minutes as he likes. There are no good reasons for him not being in the squad unless he’s injured, has personal issues, or it’s some kind of disciplinary issue and the injury is far more likely than the other 2.
It’s possibly that Gordon has been abducted by aliens too but I don’t see there’s any reason to believe that and think Howe is lying.
CLINT FLICK
Mar 16, 2023 at 2:48 PM
Comment #110Ad
Eddie does is meticulous!
It’s a team sport, like getting on stage…ya never just hoy someone in, unless you have zero choice.
Adamn_92
Mar 16, 2023 at 2:51 PM
Comment #111Clint
The others except Isak all only had a few sub appearences before being regulars I think? Bruno a few games as a sub and then he was starting. Burn came in near enough right away i think? Same with Trippier, Targett and Pope. Wood came straight in due to injury of course but then was always on the bench and came on after that period.
I think it’s only Isak who was a long introduction due to injury and Gordon now has an injury. Think all the rest were at least on the bench to start and then found themselves as regular starters shortly after. Not injured and left out altogether for a few weeks.
I know we think very differently on this but think it’s just bad timing and luck with the injuries more than anything tactical by Howe. I could be wrong of course!
CLINT FLICK
Mar 16, 2023 at 2:53 PM
Comment #112Oh!
Miggy didn’t even make the squad for months when Eddie came in… explain that away!
As did others…sat learning the new way, approach… I’m all for living in the now, believe me…but, ya know, experience!
CLINT FLICK
Mar 16, 2023 at 2:53 PM
Comment #113All coaches lie!
😀
Adamn_92
Mar 16, 2023 at 2:54 PM
Comment #114magscar
True story, a friend of mine took a bang to the leg in one of sunday league games before but played on for the last 30 minutes.
After the game it still hurt and was getting worse and worse. His dad took him up A+E and turns out he’d broken his leg! Obviously not a horrific break or anything, but played 30 minutes with a broken leg and didn’t realise. Still not sure how 🙂
magscar
Mar 16, 2023 at 2:54 PM
Comment #115We “owe” Man U not just for Cup Final but that home game in 95/6 when Cantona luckily scored after we had dominated first half – I know what came after but win that day and without other results changing we would have gone on to win the league
Long ago to a lot of posters but I can carry a grudge 🙂
I’d love it just love it if we derail their end of season 🙂
CLINT FLICK
Mar 16, 2023 at 2:55 PM
Comment #116Adamn
I feel ya bro…and yea, you could be wrong!
😉
😀
cyprus
Mar 16, 2023 at 2:55 PM
Comment #117Fowler now. “I don’t think berkamp meant that”.
You know the goal, Dabizas was it?
I too don’t think he meant it. Still, what counts is his reaction and goal.
GOAT 9 for Fowler. Shearaaa..
CLINT FLICK
Mar 16, 2023 at 2:56 PM
Comment #118Adamn
Adrenaline!
CLINT FLICK
Mar 16, 2023 at 2:57 PM
Comment #119Adamn
Btw, I’m not saying categorically that that’s what’s going on…just, form!?!
cyprus
Mar 16, 2023 at 2:58 PM
Comment #120Magscar
I agree about that goal. A dagger in the heart of our aspirations.
That turned it, right there.