Sandro Tonali, Joelinton and Sven Botman injury update

Shields Gazette

Joe Buck brings you the latest news and reaction from Eddie Howe's press conference ahead of Newcastle United's clash with Liverpool in the Premier League. Sandro Tonali and Sven Botman could feature, whilst Joelinton is a slight doubt.

Transcript

00:00So Eddie Howe has just finished his press conference ahead of Nugat's trip to Liverpool on Wednesday night.

00:07The big news of the day is obviously the injuries, as always, they're always a big talking point.

00:12Sandro Tonali will be fit. He obviously played on Sunday but started on the bench.

00:18Eddie Howe admitted after the win over Nottingham Forest that he would ideally not have risked Tonali in that game

00:24but he had to because they lacked control in that second half.

00:28But fortunately the Italian will be fit. Howe said he anticipates no issues with him.

00:33Sven Botman, he's getting closer to returning. He hasn't featured since the win over Arsenal earlier this month.

00:38Howe said he'll be very close and potentially in contention so that's one to keep an eye on.

00:43Now Joe Linton, another who's been injured even earlier than Botman. He got injured against Fulham.

00:49I think it's a little bit less certain whether he will play. Eddie Howe said that he's again close.

00:54He compared him to Botman but his answer to me after that suggests that he might not make the Liverpool game

01:00or certainly might not make the start on 11 and might end up having to settle for the start against Brighton and the Cup on Sunday.

01:07So yeah, they're the three main injury ones. Obviously Jamala Salah's the only other long-term injury and he's got to be concerned with.

01:14The rest of the press conference was a lot centred on Lewis Miley. Obviously he was really good against Nottingham Forest,

01:19particularly in that first half, as a lot of his teammates were, but he got that goal.

01:23He's enjoyed a couple of performances in recent times where he's just getting back after that injury.

01:29He's played a lot last season. He was forced to play a lot because of injuries but now he's fourth or fifth choice centre-mid.

01:36Probably fifth choice centre-mid if you've got Bruno, Tonali, Joe Linton and Joe Willock ahead of him.

01:40But yeah, a lot of praise for him and what he could be in the future.

01:45Eddie Howe, a lot of praise for him, as expected, but wants him to continue to develop, continue to learn off his coaches.

01:52So we'll just see what his role between now and the end of the season is and whether he can get regular games under his belt

01:59and whether he forces himself into Eddie Howe's plans for next season onwards.

02:06That was it. I feel it was a little bit more about PSR issues and how the club needed to develop.

02:11Eddie Howe was pretty adamant that the club have got some way to go to compete with the likes of Liverpool, Man City,

02:18maybe even Chelsea, Manchester United rather than on the pitch on a financial footing.

02:23But yeah, I think a lot to take away from Eddie Howe's press conference.

02:28I think he wants his team to stamp their authority on the match and really give Liverpool the game.

02:33He mentioned the Man City game. He wasn't happy with that and I don't think anyone was happy with that.

02:38Eddie Howe wants his team to go out, go to Anfield and really show off what they can do.

02:42Because if they can do that, they showed against Nottingham Forest.

02:45Easy to forget, Nottingham Forest are a very good team.

02:47They came in St James' Park six points ahead of them in third place and Forest have beat Liverpool at Anfield this year.

02:54And Newcastle, first half, first 45 minutes, forget the goal, that was just a bad mistake from Newcastle.

03:00But they batted them in that first half and yes, the second half wasn't good enough.

03:03But if they can do that at Anfield, that's what they need to do.

03:05They need to get their game and they've shown that two years ago at Anfield, they really gave Liverpool the game.

03:10They were booed off the pitch and they really gave them a scare.

03:12Yes, they didn't get the win. They lost that game because of a last minute Fabio Cavallo goal.

03:16But they really made their mark on that game and they were hoping to do that tomorrow night.

03:23Of course, Anfield's not a place they've got a very good record at.

03:25They haven't won a Premier League game there since 1994.

03:29They haven't won a game of any kind in just less than 30 years.

03:32I think it was November 1995.

03:33So it's not a ground they get any results from.

03:36They've been beaten the last three appearances there.

03:39But they've beaten the Emirates this season and won.

03:41They've beaten Old Trafford this season and won.

03:43So this is the season of one that they can knock off records.

03:45They didn't do that against Man City, but can they do that against Liverpool?

03:48And of course, this is a dress rehearsal for the Carabao Cup final.

03:52He was asked about that as well, Eddie Howe, whether he has to play a bit of poker with this game.

03:56Obviously coming just two and a half weeks in front for that Carabao Cup final.

03:59He didn't get drawn into that.

04:02But his answer did seem that maybe he might.

04:04So who knows what he'll do in the league game in the Carabao Cup final.

04:08But of course, the best way he can stay up to date with everything that happens at Anfield on Wednesday night

04:12and then against Brighton on Sunday, the match against West Ham a week later.

04:18And then of course the Carabao Cup final is with the Shields cassette.

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