INJURY SCARE: SANDRO TONALI AND YOANE WISSA QUESTIONABLE FOR PREMIER LEAGUE CLASH
Eddie Howe gave an important fitness update: Sandro Tonali's injury isn't serious, but he's questionable for Burnley, while £55 million signing Yoane Wissa nears his debut.
Ahead of Newcastle United's Premier League clash with Burnley, ex-Burnley boss Eddie Howe gave an update on the fitness of two important Newcastle players.
Burnley, now managed by Scott Parker, will face Newcastle at St. James’ Park this Saturday. Sandro Tonali and Yoane Wissa are questionable for the home team. Tonali, who plays for Italy, had to leave during the Tottenham Hotspur game due to a knock. After a scan, his chances of playing against the Clarets this weekend are uncertain.
Wissa's also not a sure thing for the game, but he's been back at practice, playing in two practice matches this past week. Since joining from Brentford for £55 million on deadline day, the 29-year-old hasn't played yet.
Howe mentioned in his pre-match press conference that Tonali had a scan, but they don't believe it's too serious.
He said they're doing everything they can to see if he can play. It was a knock, similar to what Joelinton had, like a dead leg. However, Tonali's injury was serious enough to warrant a scan, and they'll check on his condition today to decide if he can play.
Howe continued that Sven Botman received an injection in his back, and he hasn't seen him since the Tottenham game. The hope is the injection will help him recover quickly. It usually takes about a week for the injection to take full effect, and then they'll evaluate his progress.
Regarding Wissa, Howe said he's getting closer to playing. He played in an 11 v 11 game on Wednesday for about half an hour and did well. They'll check on him today, too.
Howe added that Wissa has looked good so far and has gotten through everything asked of him. Howe said that they still have practice today, and they have to determine if Wissa is ready to not just be fit but also ready to make a positive impact and perform at his best.
Newcastle has a busy schedule ahead, with a Champions League game against Bayer Leverkusen following the Burnley match and then the Tyne-Wear derby against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.
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.
