Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe has this evening confirmed both positive and negative updates on the club’s playing squad.
United showdown
The struggling Magpies are of course primed to return to action early next week.
In the last of the upcoming round of Premier League fixtures, Howe and co. will welcome old foes Manchester United to St. James’ Park, eyeing a timely return to form.
To date, Newcastle have managed just a solitary victory across the entirety of the 2021/22 campaign.
This means that, despite the much-publicised big-money takeover on Tyneside, the Geordie outfit remain firmly entrenched in the Premier League relegation zone.
Not only that, but they have played out several fixtures more than the likes of Watford and Burnley above them, too.
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 19: Ruben Dias of Manchester City scores a goal to make it 0-1 during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Manchester City at St. James Park on December 19, 2021 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
2 in, 3 out
As such, it goes without saying that a return to winning ways at the expense of Ralf Rangnick’s Manchester United on Monday would go down a treat at St. James’.
Such efforts, however, will come sans the services of no fewer than three members of the club’s backline.
Speaking in a pre-match press conference earlier today, Eddie Howe was asked for the latest on the wellbeing of his squad.
And the former Bournemouth boss first went on to confirm that all of Federico Fernandez, Jamal Lewis and Paul Dummett have been ruled out of proceedings.
Both Fernandez and Lewis recently picked up muscular injuries, whilst long-term absentee Dummett, despite returning to training this week, remains some way off match fitness.
Belfast , United Kingdom – 16 November 2019; Jamal Lewis of Northern Ireland during the UEFA EURO2020 Qualifier – Group C match between Northern Ireland and Netherlands at the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park in Belfast. (Photo By David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
On a more positive note, though, Howe also went on to reveal that fellow defenders Emil Krafth and Javier Manquillo are in line to return from bouts of illness on Monday:
Eddie Howe confirms Newcastle have a “few players” still sidelined. “Federico Fernandez, Paul Dummett and Jamal Lewis will all miss the (Manchester United) game but we’ll hopefully have Emil Krafth and Javier Manquillo back from illness.”
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— Ben Dinnery (@BenDinnery) December 23, 2021
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