Like most supporters, Eddie Howe must have mixed feelings about International Breaks.
On the one hand he will be proud of and pleased for his players away representing their countries. But on the other he will be hoping, if not praying that they return fit and healthy and more importantly available for selection for this weekend’s fixture and the visit of Crystal Palace.
On the injury front Harvey Barnes remains a long-term absentee but the better news comes in the shape of Joe Willock, who is ever nearer to being available for selection but won’t be rushed back. However, Lewis Miley is suffering from Glandular Fever and therefore not included in the squad.
Sven Botman looks to have overcome his own injury concerns while news is awaited on both Callum Wilson and Alexander Isak. The latter was withdrawn from the Sweden squad with what was reported as a groin problem picked up in the latter stages against West Ham. Isak has not returned to training this week and his selection will be a late call for Howe.
Joelinton should have overcome the knee injury that has kept him out recently and Anthony Gordon has completed his suspension after totting up five bookings in the first nine fixtures of the season.
That tightrope is now being walked by Bruno Guimarães who has collected for bookings this season and is therefore only one booking away from an enforced rest.
The biggest decision for Howe concerns Sandro Tonali. Speaking at his Friday morning press conference Howe said of Tonali “Sandro is very much with us, he trained twice this week with us. He is very much available for selection.
“Like I do with all the players I analyse how they have looked in training, how they feel and he’s very much with us. He has had a very difficult couple of weeks and has been dealing with a lot.
“From what I can see he is handling himself very well and dealing with his emotions strongly. But underneath that I am sure there is a lot going on. So, I have to make a call.
“But I have to bring it back to football and have to bring it back to his training performances then do what is best for the team.”
The situation regarding Tonali was obviously something that the assembled media wanted to push Howe on, not only on the players availability and impending suspension but how and when the club were made aware of alleged gambling irregularities that emanated from Italian press and prosecutor’s investigations that have rocked Italian football.
Pressed on when he expects to hear about a possible ban, Howe said: “Personally no. The other people dealing with that maybe have a better idea. For me my focus has been on Sandro himself and the training this week.”
Howe was asked if more background checks could have been done on the player before committing to his signing and he rightly replied. “That’s a different game. That’s hindsight.” And in truth that was probably more a question for Dan Ashworth and Darren Eales to answer rather than Howe. As sporting Director Ashworth is responsible for that aspect of club business.
And the same can be said about the question of what AC Milan knew about the problems regarding Tonali before sanctioning the sale. Howe simply batted that question away, saying: “That’s something I can’t comment on. I have no idea. My thought process is all about Sandro and helping him.”
Roy Hodgson meanwhile will be without Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise, who are both out with hamstring injuries. Hodgson will be hoping his midfield duo Cheick Doucoure and Jefferson Lerma have overcome their own injury concerns and are available for selection.
Match Referee for this fixture is Tim Robinson; assisted by Adrian Holmes and Simon Long. Fourth official is Keith Stroud.
VAR is in the hands of Simon Hooper and James Mainwaring.
KO is 3pm UK time.
On the one hand he will be proud of and pleased for his players away representing their countries. But on the other he will be hoping, if not praying that they return fit and healthy and more importantly available for selection for this weekend’s fixture and the visit of Crystal Palace.
On the injury front Harvey Barnes remains a long-term absentee but the better news comes in the shape of Joe Willock, who is ever nearer to being available for selection but won’t be rushed back. However, Lewis Miley is suffering from Glandular Fever and therefore not included in the squad.
Sven Botman looks to have overcome his own injury concerns while news is awaited on both Callum Wilson and Alexander Isak. The latter was withdrawn from the Sweden squad with what was reported as a groin problem picked up in the latter stages against West Ham. Isak has not returned to training this week and his selection will be a late call for Howe.
Joelinton should have overcome the knee injury that has kept him out recently and Anthony Gordon has completed his suspension after totting up five bookings in the first nine fixtures of the season.
That tightrope is now being walked by Bruno Guimarães who has collected for bookings this season and is therefore only one booking away from an enforced rest.
The biggest decision for Howe concerns Sandro Tonali. Speaking at his Friday morning press conference Howe said of Tonali “Sandro is very much with us, he trained twice this week with us. He is very much available for selection.
“Like I do with all the players I analyse how they have looked in training, how they feel and he’s very much with us. He has had a very difficult couple of weeks and has been dealing with a lot.
“From what I can see he is handling himself very well and dealing with his emotions strongly. But underneath that I am sure there is a lot going on. So, I have to make a call.
“But I have to bring it back to football and have to bring it back to his training performances then do what is best for the team.”
The situation regarding Tonali was obviously something that the assembled media wanted to push Howe on, not only on the players availability and impending suspension but how and when the club were made aware of alleged gambling irregularities that emanated from Italian press and prosecutor’s investigations that have rocked Italian football.
Pressed on when he expects to hear about a possible ban, Howe said: “Personally no. The other people dealing with that maybe have a better idea. For me my focus has been on Sandro himself and the training this week.”
Howe was asked if more background checks could have been done on the player before committing to his signing and he rightly replied. “That’s a different game. That’s hindsight.” And in truth that was probably more a question for Dan Ashworth and Darren Eales to answer rather than Howe. As sporting Director Ashworth is responsible for that aspect of club business.
And the same can be said about the question of what AC Milan knew about the problems regarding Tonali before sanctioning the sale. Howe simply batted that question away, saying: “That’s something I can’t comment on. I have no idea. My thought process is all about Sandro and helping him.”
Roy Hodgson meanwhile will be without Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise, who are both out with hamstring injuries. Hodgson will be hoping his midfield duo Cheick Doucoure and Jefferson Lerma have overcome their own injury concerns and are available for selection.
Match Referee for this fixture is Tim Robinson; assisted by Adrian Holmes and Simon Long. Fourth official is Keith Stroud.
VAR is in the hands of Simon Hooper and James Mainwaring.
KO is 3pm UK time.
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