Newcastle United pre-match press conference v Arsenal discussion

Shields Gazette

Dominic Scurr discusses Eddie Howe's Newcastle United pre-match press conference ahead of the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg v Arsenal.

Transcript

00:00Good morning everyone here outside the Newcastle United media center at Whitley Park, in my car at least because it's it's very windy

00:07So I want you guys to be able to hear me

00:09So yeah, just been speaking to Eddie Howe this morning ahead of the all-important Carabao Cup

00:15Semi-final second leg against Arsenal at St. James's Park on Wednesday night, Newcastle take a 2-0 lead into that game

00:22Potential Carabao Cup's final again on the horizon if Newcastle can see out their 2-0 lead

00:29Plenty of other things to talk about as well aside from the game because obviously the transfer window closed yesterday Newcastle's

00:36January transfer or winter transfer window, whatever you want to call it went more or less according to plan

00:41There was never really any scope to bring in players. No plan to bring in any players. I'd argue a

00:47signing of any sort would have just gave a boost to the squad that risks becoming stale as Eddie Howe's even put it previously but

00:55nothing happened even the

00:57Late deal for Lloyd Kelly doesn't really bring a significant amount of money in terms of PSR straight away

01:04So there wasn't really any scope to to do anything

01:07Late on the big chunk of the money Newcastle will get will come in the summer

01:11So for next year's PSR calculations, but obviously sold Miguel Almon as well

01:16Everything went according to plan in that regard Eddie Howe did say

01:20He was very reluctant to lose Lloyd Kelly a player who he still felt had a lot to offer at Newcastle

01:25that only just signing but when you get a free transfer and then

01:29Have the chance to make the best part of 20 million from that. It's as I said when reflected on it yesterday

01:35It's almost a no-brainer really. So yeah, it's a deal. Newcastle felt I had to do came about quite quickly

01:41after the Fulham defeat on Saturday where Lloyd Kelly actually got on the pitch and then

01:46Shortly after Eddie Howard actually finished his press conference. It's emerging that

01:51Move to Juventus is a goer. So yeah, Eddie Howe asked about that. Does it necessarily change things in terms of PSR?

01:59It's no huge boost, but it's it's been helpful in terms of looking ahead to the summer

02:04But again, Eddie Howe keen to play down the fact that or the suggestion that it would

02:11Absolutely open Newcastle's PSR and transfer spending in the summer unlock a war chest if you like

02:18Phrase he he used it. It's not not that simple. There's no set budget or anything like that. So yeah

02:25Lloyd Kelly transfer big alarm on transfer deals

02:27Newcastle felt they had to do and then the lack of incomings again the squads in a weaker place Eddie Howe's

02:33didn't hide his frustration at that but

02:36admitted it was just the reality of the situation Newcastle find itself in where

02:42Unless you're selling someone for major major money and it's almost going to be a rolling process where transfers aren't going to be

02:51Overly in terms of bringing players in they're not going to be overly forthcoming. So yeah, we'll look ahead to the summer

02:57picture not

02:58Completely clear at the moment Eddie Howe said but yeah looking ahead to the actual what should be the main talking point

03:05Which is a huge game against Arsenal

03:07To know Eddie how it was put to him many times a dangerous scoreline

03:11But it's only a dangerous scoreline if you make it that way in the second leg

03:16You if you'd rather be two nil up then

03:19Then less than that. So yeah, it's a good position

03:23Newcastle find themselves in so this narrative of a dangerous scoreline is something that is is

03:30Silly in itself really if you Newcastle are able to turn up get to the first goal. That's going to be really important and

03:37In terms of the squad going into the game, obviously Lloyd Kelly's out

03:41McGowan runs out in terms of the first leg at the Emirates Stadium

03:46They've lost those two players from the squad. Did they gain anyone back potentially Callum Wilson?

03:51He's back in training and a late call will be made on him whether he's fit enough to to make the bench

03:56Which is all he was probably ever going to be named on anyway with Alexander Isak fit and firing another

04:03Doubt for the game is obviously Joe Linton who went off with a knee injury on

04:09Saturday against Fulham who spotted with a knee brace

04:12In some training ground photos he posted on Instagram on Sunday

04:17Which obviously spogs a lot of concern among supporters, but Eddie how said that's just a precaution. It's no

04:24serious injury, but

04:26Wait and see on Joe Linton

04:28They'll give him every chance to be fit

04:30But based on what Eddie how was saying based on what you're hearing and based on the fact is knee was literally in a brace

04:36On Sunday, then I'd say Joe Linton's chances of being involved are probably slim

04:42But based on what Eddie how saying they're gonna give him every chance whether he trains today

04:46We'll we'll wait and see but yeah going into the game really really important one for Newcastle

04:52They've lost the last two at St. James's Park. It's under the lights. It's a chance to really

04:57Get the I wouldn't say get the season back on track as they've won 10 of the last 12 games, but really

05:02Spark things up heading into a very tricky run of fixtures after the Birmingham City game where they've got Man City

05:10Nottingham Forest Liverpool all in quick succession in the Premier League which after a couple of disappointing results particularly at home

05:16You need to get things back on track and this having a Carabao Cup final on the horizon to look forward to

05:23Okay, Newcastle have one foot in it in terms of winning the first leg would really

05:28sort of

05:29Build some positivity and momentum going into the sort of business end of the season for Newcastle

05:35So yeah, huge game tomorrow under the lights at St. James's Park. Can Newcastle United reach another Carabao Cup final?

05:43they certainly

05:45Have the fate in their own hands if they turn up and do what they've done against Arsenal

05:51Already this season twice already this season have beat them twice without conceding and even you go back to last season

05:58they've got a 1-0 win as well at St. James's Park if they can continue that then

06:02Great, and they'll be in there being the Carabao Cup final

06:06But there are warning signs there Newcastle again at St. James's Park recently haven't been

06:11great the last two games have lost the last two and

06:15Arsenal go into the game albeit without making any major strike addition

06:22themselves in January which would was a

06:24Sense of frustration you you got because the Arsenal again you look at the one weakness of their squad

06:30Do they have an out-and-out striker with the likes of Gabriel Jesus injured obviously in an attacking sense as well

06:36Bakayo Saka is injured. So yeah attacking additions not forthcoming for Arsenal, but

06:42Didn't seem to cause them any problems on Sunday when the beat Manchester City 5-1 and if they can continue that sort of

06:49free-scoring

06:50Nature on Wednesday night Newcastle will be in for a tricky evening

06:53But like I say, I think the first goal will be important if it happens early on and it happens for Arsenal

06:59it could be a

07:00nervy evening for Newcastle

07:02But we'll just wait and see Newcastle in a healthy position a better position than

07:06Probably most people would have expected them to be in considering the very very rarely win at the Emirates Stadium

07:12So to win 2-0 in the first leg

07:13Probably one of the best performances of the season as well if they can play half as well at St

07:18James's Park tomorrow night

07:19They'll be in with a very good chance of reaching Wembley where either Tottenham Hotspur or Liverpool will await them in the final

07:26So big chance tomorrow night big game, of course

07:30And we'll be covering it every step of the way over on the Shields Gazette

07:34so head over to Shields Gazette.com for all of the reaction and

07:39quotes from Eddie Howe

07:40Heading into this Arsenal game as well as the fallout from the transfer window and everything like that for myself Dominic Scurr, my colleague

07:47Joe Buck as well. So see you tomorrow night at St. James's Park. Cheers

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