Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe addressed the media ahead of Saturday’s Premier League match against Brentford at St James’ Park, scheduled for a 17:30 GMT kick-off.
Here are the main points from his news conference:
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Anthony Gordon is set to miss Saturday’s match due to an injury sustained during the game against Manchester City on Wednesday. However, Howe is optimistic that he will return to action “pretty soon.”
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Bruno Guimaraes has been sidelined with an ankle injury for the last four matches but has returned to training this week and is expected to be included in the squad. Howe is also waiting for updates on Lewis Miley, who he hopes will be back soon.
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Newcastle is currently without a win in their last four matches. Howe emphasized the importance of maintaining players’ confidence: “While the recent results may look negative, the games themselves were not as straightforward as the scorelines suggest. We must protect our players’ confidence because carrying that weight can complicate future performances.”
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He remarked, “Players need to enter these matches with a clear mindset. Dealing with defeat is challenging; it’s essential to process it, learn, and grow.”
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Sitting 11th in the Premier League, a win could propel the Magpies above Brentford into seventh, with a match against Tottenham coming up on Tuesday. Howe stated, “We have a big week ahead, prioritizing the Premier League. It’s crucial to channel our full focus on these upcoming games against Brentford and Tottenham, especially after several away matches. It’s great to be back home on Saturday.”
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Nick Woltemade has not found the net in the league since December against Chelsea, but Howe believes the young striker is adapting to the Premier League: “He started strong, but it’s challenging to maintain that momentum. He’s learning the pace, intensity, and physicality of this league, and teams are starting to get familiar with his style, which adds to his challenges.”
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Howe continued, “Opponents are starting to understand how he plays, so he needs to find new ways to adapt. While there’s room for improvement, I appreciate his positive attitude and efforts.”
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Regarding Yoane Wissa, who will face his former team for the first time, Howe expressed hope that he will regain his best form as the season progresses: “He’s improving physically, but there are no quick fixes. After joining us, he struggled with injuries and is now eager to impress while getting back to full fitness.”
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Howe shared, “He is fit and well, but he needs to work on his match sharpness. When fully fit, certain skills come naturally, but rediscovering that quickly can be challenging. However, I have no doubts about his quality and goal-scoring instincts; it’s just about honing his sharpness over time.”
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On the upcoming match against Brentford, Howe stated, “Every match is crucial for us. The Premier League offers no easy games, and Brentford has been impressive away from home this season. I’ve watched their recent matches against Aston Villa and Chelsea, and they are highly competitive. They’ve bounced back well from some key player departures and seem stronger for it.”
Listen to more from Howe on BBC Sounds
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