NEWCASTLE RECEIVE MIXED INJURY NEWS FROM EDDIE HOWE BEFORE BRIGHTON
Eddie Howe provides a positive Newcastle injury update. Joelinton is fit for Brighton, Lewis Hall's scan was encouraging, and Yoane Wissa is back on the grass. Bruno Guimaraes also returned safely.
Before Newcastle United's match against Brighton, Eddie Howe gave injury information on players, including Joelinton and Lewis Hall.
Newcastle United vs. Brighton at the Amex Stadium marks the Magpies' return to Premier League action following the international break.
Newcastle, who have not defeated the Seagulls away from home since February 2017, are expected to draw with them.
With Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton travelling to and from Asia to represent Brazil over the international break, Eddie Howe does have some fitness issues going into the match. Howe has given updates on their availability before the Brighton match, and the travel will have taken its toll.
Bruno Guimaraes is healthy for Newcastle United's match against Brighton, according to Eddie Howe.
Lewis Miley, Joelinton, and Bruno Guimaraes
There were questions about the Magpies' midfield options because Lewis Miley had left the England Under-21 team, and Bruno and Joelinton were going to Asia. But Howe seems to have allayed those worries.
According to the Chronicle, he stated, "Everyone has returned safely."
"We had some concerns about Joelinton, but he appears to be doing well and should be able to train today."
Lewis Hall
Howe has now given a further update on Lewis Hall, the teenage left-back who missed Newcastle's victory over Forest due to a hamstring injury.
"The results of the second scan were encouraging," he stated.
He might be out on a variety of time scales, and this was the shortest one. Before the next international break, we hope he will return. It is fantastic news because that might not have been possible from the initial scan.
Yoane Wissa
Although Yoane Wissa has not yet been given his Newcastle United debut, Howe has given an encouraging update on his recuperation from a knee injury.
"Yoane's knee has responded nicely to that training, and we have seen him on the grass for the first time," he stated.
"We will progressively advance him, but deadlines have not changed."
Jacob Ramsey
After missing action since late August due to an ankle issue, Jacob Ramsey is back to full fitness.
He stated, "JJ had a few training sessions, but we did not want to push him too early."
"He appears to be doing well after a few more training sessions."
The summer acquisition is included in Geordie Boot Boys' projected Newcastle starting lineup for their match against Brighton; however, he has not played for the Magpies since the 0-0 draw with Leeds. After spending £43 million to join from Aston Villa, Ramsey has yet to prove his abilities to the Toon Army, so this might be a great opportunity for him.
Howe is anticipated to continue with the same back four that helped Newcastle defeat Union Saint-Gilloise and Nottingham Forest back-to-back while keeping a clean sheet, as Lewis Hall is injured.
EDDIE HOWE CONFIRMS NEWCASTLE LINEUP SHIFTS ARE PART OF A MAJOR FUTURE STRATEGY
Eddie Howe confirms he is picking Newcastle lineups with next season in mind, trialling players like Ramsey and Woltemade early.
Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe isn’t pretending he’s already thinking about next season. People have been saying Kieran Trippier is close to triggering a payment if he plays more games, so that might influence whether he features again before the season ends. But Howe brushed that off and said he’s making his decisions purely for football reasons.
Talking to reporters at the City Ground about why Anthony Gordon was missing, Howe admitted he’s picking his lineup with the future in mind. Later, in his press conference, he went into more detail about focusing on what comes next at St James’ Park.
"We’re definitely looking ahead," Howe said. "You can see it in some of the choices I’m making with the team. I want to get a look at some players and see how they might grow into the squad."
One of those players is Jacob Ramsey, who came off the bench, set up Harvey Barnes with a great pass, and really changed the game. "I thought Jacob Ramsey was brilliant when he came on against Forest. He really made a difference, and so did Harvey. It’s good to see players taking their chances," Howe said.
He added, "We have to be thinking about the future now and what the team’s going to look like next year. That’s our responsibility at this point."
Before the match, Howe surprised a lot of fans by starting Lewis Hall at right-back, Nick Woltemade in midfield, and pushing Joelinton further forward than usual. Again, Howe explained he wants to see what players can do in different positions.
"It wasn’t some huge change from Brighton; we kept the same shape," Howe said. "But for Nick, this was only one of a few times he’s started in that role for us. He played alongside Will, and they haven’t had much time together either.
"There were positives for Nick, but he wasn’t involved as much as we wanted in the first half. We still need to see his best on the ball. In the second half, though, I thought we got better as a team. We attacked more and looked like a real threat as the match wore on."
MAGPIES EYE £1M BARGAIN TIAGO GABRIEL TO SOLVE GROWING DEFENSIVE INJURY CRISIS
Newcastle are leading the race against Juventus for Tiago Gabriel, the 21-year-old Serie A defensive sensation.
Newcastle United appear to be keeping an eye on Lecce’s young defender Tiago Gabriel as they consider potential options for the summer transfer window.
With Fabian Schar’s contract due to expire at the end of June, the Magpies are preparing for the possibility of his departure. Although an extension is still on the table, Schar has been sidelined since early January because of an ankle injury and doesn't seem close to making a comeback.
At 21, Gabriel has featured 36 times across all competitions this season for Lecce, who are currently four points clear of the Serie A relegation zone. Newcastle’s recruitment team is among those following his development, seemingly interested in exploring a move once the transfer window opens.
Back in December, reports surfaced that both West Ham and Juventus were also tracking Gabriel’s progress. The young defender, who came through Sporting CP’s academy, has had a strong season and will enter the final year of his contract this summer.
Gabriel transferred to Lecce last January for slightly over £1 million, moving from Portuguese club Estrela Amadora. Should he leave this summer, a significantly higher fee might be expected, reflecting his rise in form.
Before joining Estrela Amadora, Gabriel had been part of Setúbal's academy after leaving Sporting in 2020. His performances have earned him regular appearances for Portugal’s Under-21 side, and senior international opportunities may not be far off.
A switch to the Premier League could potentially boost his profile substantially, but he will likely weigh his options with some care.
According to O Jogo, Newcastle continue to monitor his situation keenly as interest around the defender grows.
Regarding Fabian Schar’s future, things remain uncertain even with just weeks left on his current deal. While Kieran Trippier has been publicly confirmed to be leaving upon contract expiration, no similar announcement has come for Schar.
Last week, Howe commented on the defender’s status, noting that no definitive decision has been made yet. He emphasised Schar’s value to the team, pointing out his unique role as a ball-playing defender and his versatility in various defensive setups.
Schar’s influence on the pitch and experience are clearly appreciated, and the club hopes he can regain full fitness before the season concludes. As for any new contract talks, Howe suggested it’s a matter of waiting to see how things unfold.
