Newcastle Utd head into Saturday’s fixture rocked by the news that the injury sustained by their striker Callum Wilson in the final minutes of last weekends game against Nottingham Forest will keep him out of action for between 9 and 12 weeks.
Wilson tore a pectoral muscle in a tussle with Nottingham Forest defender Moussa Niakhaté and has undergo surgery to repair the damage, and with Alexander Isak still struggling with a groin problem, it is likely that Howe is once more unable to call upon either of his recognised strikers.
Addressing his misfortune at being unable to call upon Wilson or Isak, Howe had this to say at his pre match press conference at Darsley Park on Friday morning. “It's hurt us. Two outstanding players who make each other better. Not having the ability to use them together has been a real negative. We have to deal with the news and adapt.”
And While Wilson goes under the knife, there was better news regarding Isak as Howe stated that he’s “Probably not [available] for the weekend. He's very, very, very close and looking really good. I'm really pleased with the progress he's made. Mentally he looks good so let's wait and see”.
Wilson has managed only 16 appearances this season with eight of those appearances coming off the bench, scoring seven goals in a season blighted first by a hamstring injury followed by a calf problem that kept him out of action throughout January, where he missed five games, including the FA cup ties against Sunderland and Fulham.
Wilson also missed both champions league ties against PSG. He was also missing for the EFL 3rd Round tie against Manchester City back in September through injury.
His fellow strike partner meanwhile has managed only 17 league games this season, returning 10 goals from 14 starts as he too has struggled with injury. In Isak’s case the problem is a recurring groin injury first encountered in the home tie against Crystal Palace back in October.
With Wilson unavailable long term, Newcastle will need to manage the fitness of Isak very carefully if they are going to get the best out of the striker as the season progresses. Let’s just hope coach, player and medical team are all on the same page!
Definitely unavailable for selection this weekend are Nick Pope and Elliott Anderson and Matt Targett, while Joe Willock looks close to being discharged from the treatment room and being available for selection.
On Willock, Howe said “He's knocking on the door, very close, looking good and feeling much better. Another huge player that we're desperate to get back. He's close.”
Targett meanwhile is now back in light training and could be available for selection by the time Newcastle meet Blackburn Rovers in their FA Cup Fifth Round tie at the end of the month.
There is no word on the progress of long term absentee Joelinton. Jacob Murphy hasn’t trained all week therefore must be marked down at doubtful; although the same was said this time last week about Anthony Gordon and he made the starting lineup against Forest.
Eddie Howe will be hoping its fourth time lucky against his old club having faced Bournemouth three times in the Premier League since leaving them, and is winless in all three encounters with two draws and one defeat on his CV.
The danger man facing the Magpies is Dominic Solanke who has 13 Premier League goals for Bournemouth this season. However, Solanke has failed to find the net in four of his last five outings and his teams 3-1 loss at Fulham last time out made it five Premier League games without a win for the Cherries: a winless run stretching back to the start of the new year.
The other big talking point on Tyneside revolves around Sporting Director Dan Ashworth and whether he will depart the club for a similar role at Manchester United. And judging by Eddie Howe’s response when asked, it would appear that any deal seems to be being negotiated in the press rather than the boardroom.
Asked if there had been contact between the two clubs concerning Ashworth moving to Old Trafford, Howe said, "Nothing as far as I'm aware. Obviously, it's been in the news a lot and usually with these things that means something is going to happen. But as we speak now, we've had no contact. It's an unusual situation. I'm used to speculation around players, but this is different”.
And indeed, it is. As Sporting Director Ashworth has been operating at Board level where strategic decisions are developed, influenced, and made. Transfer policy, club finances, the impact of the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability rules, player contracts and sponsorship deals; both current and planned.
Allowing Ashworth to simply move to a competitor is not a simple case of him emptying his desk and walking out of the door and while officially Manchester Utd have yet to approach Newcastle will play hardball when it comes to any negotiation leading to Ashworth’s departure "Of course," Howe told reporters. "It goes without saying that we're very protective of what's ours, whether that's players or staff. If people do eventually move on to other clubs, then there's a process to go through before; that is reality."
The match Referee for this 3pm kick off is Michael Salisbury, with Richard West and Akil Howson in the supporting roles as his two flag waving assistants. The Fourth official patrolling the technical area is Oli Langford, while the VAR hut will be manned by Rob Jones; assisted by Simon Bennett.
Wilson tore a pectoral muscle in a tussle with Nottingham Forest defender Moussa Niakhaté and has undergo surgery to repair the damage, and with Alexander Isak still struggling with a groin problem, it is likely that Howe is once more unable to call upon either of his recognised strikers.
Addressing his misfortune at being unable to call upon Wilson or Isak, Howe had this to say at his pre match press conference at Darsley Park on Friday morning. “It's hurt us. Two outstanding players who make each other better. Not having the ability to use them together has been a real negative. We have to deal with the news and adapt.”
And While Wilson goes under the knife, there was better news regarding Isak as Howe stated that he’s “Probably not [available] for the weekend. He's very, very, very close and looking really good. I'm really pleased with the progress he's made. Mentally he looks good so let's wait and see”.
Wilson has managed only 16 appearances this season with eight of those appearances coming off the bench, scoring seven goals in a season blighted first by a hamstring injury followed by a calf problem that kept him out of action throughout January, where he missed five games, including the FA cup ties against Sunderland and Fulham.
Wilson also missed both champions league ties against PSG. He was also missing for the EFL 3rd Round tie against Manchester City back in September through injury.
His fellow strike partner meanwhile has managed only 17 league games this season, returning 10 goals from 14 starts as he too has struggled with injury. In Isak’s case the problem is a recurring groin injury first encountered in the home tie against Crystal Palace back in October.
With Wilson unavailable long term, Newcastle will need to manage the fitness of Isak very carefully if they are going to get the best out of the striker as the season progresses. Let’s just hope coach, player and medical team are all on the same page!
Definitely unavailable for selection this weekend are Nick Pope and Elliott Anderson and Matt Targett, while Joe Willock looks close to being discharged from the treatment room and being available for selection.
On Willock, Howe said “He's knocking on the door, very close, looking good and feeling much better. Another huge player that we're desperate to get back. He's close.”
Targett meanwhile is now back in light training and could be available for selection by the time Newcastle meet Blackburn Rovers in their FA Cup Fifth Round tie at the end of the month.
There is no word on the progress of long term absentee Joelinton. Jacob Murphy hasn’t trained all week therefore must be marked down at doubtful; although the same was said this time last week about Anthony Gordon and he made the starting lineup against Forest.
Eddie Howe will be hoping its fourth time lucky against his old club having faced Bournemouth three times in the Premier League since leaving them, and is winless in all three encounters with two draws and one defeat on his CV.
The danger man facing the Magpies is Dominic Solanke who has 13 Premier League goals for Bournemouth this season. However, Solanke has failed to find the net in four of his last five outings and his teams 3-1 loss at Fulham last time out made it five Premier League games without a win for the Cherries: a winless run stretching back to the start of the new year.
The other big talking point on Tyneside revolves around Sporting Director Dan Ashworth and whether he will depart the club for a similar role at Manchester United. And judging by Eddie Howe’s response when asked, it would appear that any deal seems to be being negotiated in the press rather than the boardroom.
Asked if there had been contact between the two clubs concerning Ashworth moving to Old Trafford, Howe said, "Nothing as far as I'm aware. Obviously, it's been in the news a lot and usually with these things that means something is going to happen. But as we speak now, we've had no contact. It's an unusual situation. I'm used to speculation around players, but this is different”.
And indeed, it is. As Sporting Director Ashworth has been operating at Board level where strategic decisions are developed, influenced, and made. Transfer policy, club finances, the impact of the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability rules, player contracts and sponsorship deals; both current and planned.
Allowing Ashworth to simply move to a competitor is not a simple case of him emptying his desk and walking out of the door and while officially Manchester Utd have yet to approach Newcastle will play hardball when it comes to any negotiation leading to Ashworth’s departure "Of course," Howe told reporters. "It goes without saying that we're very protective of what's ours, whether that's players or staff. If people do eventually move on to other clubs, then there's a process to go through before; that is reality."
The match Referee for this 3pm kick off is Michael Salisbury, with Richard West and Akil Howson in the supporting roles as his two flag waving assistants. The Fourth official patrolling the technical area is Oli Langford, while the VAR hut will be manned by Rob Jones; assisted by Simon Bennett.