Eddie Howe has acknowledged that Newcastle United is still adapting to the demands of their European schedule following their 2-2 draw against Wolves on Saturday. He expressed his need to be cautious with team selection for the upcoming midweek Carabao Cup match against Manchester United.
This season marks Newcastle’s return to the Champions League after a 20-year absence, and their recent defeat to Borussia Dortmund had left them disappointed. In the Wolves game, they were twice equalized by their opponents, with goals from Mario Lemina and Hwang Hee-chan cancelling out strikes by Callum Wilson. Despite this, Howe denied that fatigue was evident in Newcastle’s performance and pointed out that the final phase of the game pleased him the most.
Howe mentioned that dealing with the challenging schedule is something they will have to adapt to throughout the season, emphasizing that this is what they aspire to have regularly as it represents the pinnacle. He also acknowledged that injuries to attacking players have limited his options for rotating and refreshing the squad. Nevertheless, he emphasized the players’ eagerness to be on the field, and he expects them to continue getting a lot of playing time in the coming weeks.
In summary, Howe remains positive about the team’s performance, commending their commitment, bravery, and effort, and he is proud of the players’ dedication despite the challenges they face.