Eddie Howe Provides Injury Update on Sven Botman and Harvey Barnes

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe praises Alexander Isak's form ahead of the Premier League clash against Wolves.

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe is exercising caution ahead of his team's Premier League clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers on Wednesday. Howe is wary of the threat posed by Wolves under their new manager, Vitor Pereira, who has quickly made a positive impact on the team. Speaking at a press conference, Howe said, “Vitor Pereira has connected with the players very quickly, I think you can see that. They're playing with a confidence, that shows with their form.”

Howe acknowledged that Wolves appear to be a revitalized team under Pereira's guidance, with a clear identity and a settled lineup. He warned that his team will need to be at their best to overcome the challenge posed by Wolves, saying, “They look a settled team and a clear identity. They will be very dangerous opponents, they have some very good players.”

Despite Newcastle's good form, Howe emphasized the importance of maintaining focus and not getting ahead of themselves. He stated, “I think for me, I know it's boring but, it is game by game and it is trying to keep our focus on what we can affect which is. Our next training session, our next game, and making sure that we're not getting ahead of ourselves in both ways.” Howe also highlighted the need for consistency, whether the team is experiencing a winning streak or a disappointing run.

Howe cautioned against complacency, reminding his team that the Premier League is an unforgiving competition. He said, “So when we were having a disappointing run, it was about making sure that we didn't throw everything out and become despondent. It's exactly the same when you're winning. It's making sure that you're consistent with what you do and the messages are clear. We focus and don't take this position for granted. I think the Premier League is an unforgiving league.”

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe is aware that striker Alexander Isak is on the verge of breaking a club record by scoring in eight consecutive games. Howe commented on Isak's situation, saying, “Yeah, he'll be desperate to play, of course. Those runs I'm not really too focused on and I'm not too interested in but I understand the individuals will care deeply about them. I'd love Alex to continue to score.”

Howe emphasized the importance of the team's overall performance, stating, “I think the most important thing for me is that the team is functioning well for him and he's functioning well for the team. The two things go hand in hand together.” He also highlighted the significance of Newcastle's recent goal-scoring form, saying, “We have looked like scoring goals recently, that's such a big thing for our confidence levels. He's played a big part in that, hopefully that continues.”

Regarding the return of defender Sven Botman from injury, Howe noted the need to strike a balance between rest and recovery. He said, “It is always a balance because after two big physical games, with Sven we needed to rest and recover. There were a few warning signs that he was going into a fatigue. Then of course you need to get back up and running again because the schedule is unrelenting. There's a few we will assess, we will try to make the right calls for them individually.”

Howe also provided an update on the injury sustained by winger Harvey Barnes during the FA Cup win against Bromley. The manager revealed, “He’s had a scan. It’s not too bad but he will miss the upcoming games. We’re looking at around a month.”