Newcastle United vs Ipswich Town: Eddie Howe is back

NewcastleWorld

Eddie Howe will return to the Newcastle United dugout for the Premier League clash against Ipswich Town. Howe has missed the last three matches after suffering with pneumonia.

Transcript

00:00So yeah, we are at Newcastle United Media Centre where we've been speaking to Eddie Howe

00:05ahead of Saturday's Premier League clash against Ipswich Town at St James' Park.

00:11Great to see Eddie Howe back in the hot seat this morning.

00:15It's been a difficult couple of weeks for him following his pneumonia diagnosis

00:21but he's returned to work this week, returned to the training ground on Wednesday,

00:26took his press duties this morning and will be on the touchline for the Ipswich game on Saturday.

00:33Eddie spoke to the media for around about half an hour and as you can imagine,

00:38most of the questions were regarding his health scare, the process of how he ended up being ill

00:44during that Leicester game. Actually, he revealed that he was unwell for that Leicester win on the Monday night.

00:51The players then had a couple of days off.

00:53Eddie Howe then tried to come in to training, to prepare for the Manchester United game.

00:57Couldn't, of course, then went from being bedridden to being admitted to hospital.

01:04He'd been in constant contact with the club doctor here, Paul Catterson.

01:09So yeah, he ended up going to hospital on Friday.

01:13From then he was diagnosed with pneumonia and ever since then it's just been a recovery process.

01:18Eddie Howe and he thanked the NHS for their unbelievable support to him.

01:24Of course, he's taken the last couple of weeks to recover, as I say.

01:29Handed the reins to Jason Tindall.

01:31Eddie Howe had no contact whatsoever with Jason Tindall.

01:35So he totally left it up to his assisting coach whilst he recovered.

01:38But now, yeah, around a fortnight on from Eddie Howe as I admitted to hospital,

01:43he is back to work at Newcastle United.

01:46And yeah, it's no surprise to see Eddie Howe back so soon.

01:49I think maybe many other people would have, you know, taken the time,

01:54not rushed themselves back.

01:55And there's maybe no suggestion to say that Eddie Howe has rushed himself back.

02:00But he's certainly back quickly, shall we say, as I say.

02:04He's only in hospital two weeks ago.

02:05So it speaks volumes about him, the man that he is,

02:08that he wants to get back to work and really help Newcastle United get over the line

02:11in the last five games of the Premier League season in terms of Champions League qualification.

02:17They're still in a really, really good position.

02:19I know they got beat off Aston Villa last weekend,

02:21but Aston Villa's defeat to Manchester City in midweek mean that Newcastle can't open up

02:25a five-point gap on Aston Villa this weekend.

02:28Then you've got four games left.

02:30If you can edge Aston Villa out of the race,

02:33you've only got to worry about Chelsea, Reedy, Manchester City, of course,

02:37are there as well, Nottingham Forest.

02:40But I think Manchester City will be the team that to definitely get Champions League football,

02:44just what they are there.

02:45They've picked up form again.

02:46The Premier League champions are currently the Premier League champions

02:50until Liverpool don't win it.

02:51But I expect Manchester City to finish third.

02:55And then, as I say, you've got Chelsea and Nottingham Forest.

02:57And then Aston Villa isn't ruled out, but as I say,

02:59it's a big opportunity for Newcastle to open up a points gap on Aston Villa

03:03this weekend against the Ipswich Town side.

03:05That if they lose, it's St. James' Park will be relegated.

03:08Or even, sorry, even if they've drawn St. James' Park,

03:10they will be relegated.

03:12So it's a big opportunity for Newcastle this weekend

03:14to edge closer to Champions League football.

03:16In terms of team news, Newcastle expect to have Fabian Scher available.

03:22He obviously scored at Villa Park last Saturday.

03:26He was given a tough time, though, by the Aston Villa front line.

03:29He had to come off in the final 10 minutes after feeling his hamstring,

03:33but Newcastle expect him to be fine.

03:35Sven Bottmann has trained this week.

03:37He's back on the grass,

03:37but Eddie Howe said it was very early stages,

03:40which may be cast out on his involvement,

03:42but shows that he is edging closer to a return.

03:46And, yeah, the rest of the team is pretty much the same.

03:48From the Aston Villa game,

03:49there was no fresh absences reported in there.

03:52So, yeah, as I say,

03:54a big opportunity for Newcastle this weekend.

03:55Thank you, man.

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