Eddie Howe is adopting a “wait and see” approach to the fitness of Alexander Isak, Kieran Trippier and Anthony Gordon ahead of Monday night’s trip to Leicester.
Isak and Trippier were both taken off in the 2-1 win over Brentford on Wednesday night while Gordon sustained a heavy knock while on international duty with England and missed the midweek game at St James’ Park.
On top-scorer Isak and full-back Trippier, Howe said: “Wait and see today, really. Of course, I had medical updates yesterday but I will see them for the first time today. Hopefully they are feeling okay. I don’t think we have any big injuries from Wednesday night, but we have certainly got a few niggles so let’s wait and see.”
Eddie Howe’s team-news ahead of Monday:
“We’ll wait and see today, I will see them [Kieran Trippier and Alexander Isak] for the first time today. We don’t think we have any big injuries from Wednesday night, but we have a few niggles. We are monitoring Anthony [Gordon], he is… pic.twitter.com/RoL50fGbWa
— Newcastle United (@NUFC) April 4, 2025
On Gordon, he added: “He hasn’t yet [returned to full training]. Another one we’re monitoring. We think he’s still recovering from a really bad knock he got for England, he’s still got huge bruising on his leg.
“He’s done individual training. He’s not done group training. He’s still not feeling 100% pain free.”
Crammed fixture list could hamper Newcastle
Newcastle go into the weekend in sixth place in the Premier League and still hoping to secure a spot in next season’s Champions League.
Howe is worried, however, that his squad may struggle to maintain their recent good form, especially with a crowded fixture list.
“Yeah, especially with the number of games we have got in a short period of time,” he added. “We have got three games in six days [starting on April 13].
“That will be a testing period for us, but we have just got to try and manage and navigate this period really sensibly with the players that we do have fit. We need to look after everybody. If we can get a good, strong team out on the pitch, we’re good enough.”
Howe talks up midfield three
Newcastle’s strength lies in the goals of Isak and the midfield threesome of Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton and Sandro Tonali.
Asked if he felt the trio were among the best midfields in the top flight, Howe said: “It’s difficult for me to give a definitive answer but just looking at those individual players, they all bring something different and when you talk about balance, that’s what you want.
“You want the creativity that Bruno can bring us, the good decision-making that Sandro brings us and Joelinton’s physical presence. Add that together and you’ve got a little bit of everything. Although you can think that before bringing them together, sometimes, you can’t measure the chemistry. Chemistry is just as important. That’s why you see some players play better with others and sometimes there’s no logic behind it. It just happens because the players express themselves in that way together.
“They are getting there. With every game, maybe, the understanding of each other gets better and stronger.”
Howe insists Leicester are dangerous despite woeful recent form
On paper, a trip to Leicester should be a routine assignment with the Foxes having lost their last seven Premier League games without scoring but Howe insisted it will be a difficult game at the King Power Stadium.
“We know they’re dangerous, we know they have got good players,” he said. “Jamie Vardy is still a massive threat. He brings his unique qualities that we’re going to need to control. Ruud [van Nistelrooy] has got his team playing good football so we’re going to have to be on our guard. There’s no easy games.”
Leicester are 19th in the Premier League table, 12 points adrift of safety and seemingly heading for an immediate return to the Championship.
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