Eddie Howe gives fresh injury update on Alexander Isak, Sven Botman & more
Eddie Howe says it is touch and go whether Alexander Isak, Sven Botman and Callum Wilson will play for Newcastle United this weekend.
Botman and Wilson were among the Magpies who missed the impressive Carabao Cup victory over Manchester City on Wednesday night due to knee and hamstring injuries respectively.
Isak scored the winning goal against the Citizens but was subbed off shortly after with a calf problem, and with six other players in the treatment room, Howe has been left with a depleted side.
Newcastle play struggling Burnley on Saturday, before a huge Champions League clash against PSG and a league match against West Ham round off their fixtures before the next international break.
Following the City win, the manager was ‘hopeful’ that his players would be ok but in his pre-match press conference on Friday, he admitted he still doesn’t know who will be fit to play.
‘Callum we’re going to see today. Minor hamstring tightness so we’ll give him every chance to be available,’ Howe said.
‘Same with Sven, we’ll make a late check on him. He [Isak] is another one who we’ll make a check on. It’s the cost of three games in a week.
‘Harvey Barnes is out, Joe Willock is out. Emil Krafth is out but he plays for the under-23s tonight which is really good to see. Dan Burn’s had some illness but he should be OK.’
While the likes of Isak and Botman could be back soon, the same cannot be said of Barnes, with the £38million summer signing set to be out for the next three months after injuring his foot in the 8-0 win at Sheffield United last Sunday.
‘We think he’ll be out for three months. No surgery required, which is good news but he’s in a boot,’ Howe added.
‘An injury underneath his toe and he’s starting his recovery. I think he’ll be sedated for a period of time as he has to rest the toe to give it every chance to recover and then build him up slowly, which is why it’s three months.
‘It’s come at a shocking time for Harvey. He was beginning to find his rhythm.
‘With so many games coming up, it’s a huge blow to lose any player. We have to deal with it, accept it and we wish him a speedy recovery.’
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