Eddie Howe Brushed Off Arne Slot's 'Smaller Club' Jibe, Praises Nick Woltemade
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe dismisses Arne Slot's 'smaller club' comments, instead praising Nick Woltemade's impressive start after replacing Alexander Isak.
“We've got things to improve and to grow, but the club and the owners here have developed the facilities since I've been here very, very well...”
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has dismissed Liverpool boss Arne Slot's comments about the Magpies being a “smaller club.,” Howe refused to engage in a war of words over the Alexander Isak transfer saga, choosing instead to focus on the upcoming match against Fulham.
Slot's remarks were made after Isak suffered a groin injury during Liverpool's Champions League match against Eintracht Frankfurt. The Liverpool manager suggested that Isak's preparation for the new season was affected by his time at Newcastle, implying that the club's facilities and setup were not up to par with Liverpool's standards.
Howe, however, praised Newcastle's training facilities, saying they were “very good” and that the club's owners had developed them well since he took over. He also expressed his satisfaction with the club's elite athletes, stating that they were managing pretty well. With this positivity, Newcastle prepares to face Fulham, looking to build momentum with Nick Woltemade in good form, having scored five goals in all competitions.
Meanwhile, Isak's replacement, Woltemade, has been impressing, scoring five goals in all competitions, while Newcastle's other forward signing, Yoane Wissa, faces a longer road to recovery after sustaining an injury on international duty.
Arne Slot had previously highlighted the challenges of integrating a player who hasn't trained or played in pre-season into Liverpool's lineup, stating, “You cannot compare a player who maybe hasn't trained or played in pre-season for a smaller club to then go to Liverpool.” This observation comes as Alexander Isak faces uncertainty over his availability for the upcoming match.
Alexander Isak's journey to Liverpool has been complicated, with the striker being frozen out of the Newcastle squad and forced to train alone while awaiting a potential transfer to Merseyside. Newcastle's manager, Eddie Howe, has expressed frustration over the situation, emphasizing that Isak needs to earn his place in the team. Isak's setback came during Liverpool's midweek win over Eintracht Frankfurt, where he was substituted off, putting his availability for the weekend in doubt.
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has chosen not to engage with Liverpool boss Arne Slot's comments about the Magpies being a “smaller club,” instead focusing on the upcoming match against Fulham. Slot's remarks were made in the context of Alexander Isak's transition from Newcastle to Liverpool.
“I think the set-up (training facilities) here is very good. It's not perfect. We've got things to improve and to grow, but the club and the owners here have developed the facilities since I've been here very, very well.
“You can see there's building work going on currently to hopefully help us deliver even better in the future. But I've got no complaints. We've got elite athletes here, many of them.”
"I see a player that's more at home in his environment"
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) October 24, 2025
Eddie Howe discusses the 'excellent' impact that Nick Woltemade is having at Newcastle 🤩 pic.twitter.com/JZjo6KrHqw
Howe's Delight with Woltemade's Stellar Start
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe is thrilled with Nick Woltemade's impressive start, scoring 5 goals in all competitions, proving to be a valuable replacement for Alexander Isak.
“Physically there has been a vast improvement (since his arrival),” Howe said.
“The challenge for him at this moment is that he's got to do it every three or four days and that is not easy physically and mentally. He has a lot of responsibility on his shoulders but he is carrying that really well.
“I see a player and a person coming into the training ground that feels more at home in his environment, a lot more relaxed and you are seeing his natural personality come out. I am very pleased with him.”
Newcastle's new forward Yoane Wissa is expected to face a longer recovery period after picking up an injury while on international duty with the DR Congo national team. The striker has yet to feature for Newcastle since joining from Brentford in a £55 million deal on transfer deadline day.
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