Newcastle United is eagerly awaiting positive updates on the injury status of some of their key players during the upcoming two-week international break. Eddie Howe, the manager, is optimistic about the return of three injured Newcastle United players during this break.
Despite securing a 2-2 draw against West Ham United last Sunday, Eddie Howe had to cope without the services of Joelinton, Sven Botman, and Joe Willock, in addition to the suspended Anthony Gordon. Joelinton has been absent for the past two matches due to a hamstring injury, while Sven Botman hasn’t played since the 8-0 victory over Sheffield United last month due to a knee problem. On the other hand, Joe Willock has been sidelined since May, facing multiple setbacks in his recovery, including a hamstring injury in pre-season and a fresh Achilles issue in August.
The next fixture for Newcastle United is against Crystal Palace at St James’ Park after the international break, and Eddie Howe is hopeful that some of these injured players will be available for selection. When asked about Joelinton, Howe mentioned that his return wasn’t imminent, as he hadn’t trained with the team yet, but he expressed hope for his availability in the next game.
Regarding the broader injury situation, Eddie Howe acknowledged the absence of key players and praised the depth of his squad. He mentioned that the recent performances have been positive despite the stretched squad, emphasizing that players like Joelinton, Joe Willock, Sven Botman, and Anthony Gordon could make a significant impact, especially in close matches when fatigue sets in. He expressed the team’s desire to have these players back in action in the coming two weeks.
Notably, the only long-term absentee for Newcastle is Harvey Barnes, a summer signing from Leicester City, who is expected to remain sidelined until early 2024 due to a foot injury.