Eddie Howe provides Newcastle injury updates with key player nearing return

Eddie Howe has given Newcastle fans an encouraging update ahead of Tuesday’s clash with Tottenham, despite the club’s ongoing injury woes this season.

The Magpies have been in mixed form this season and are currently 13th in the Premier League, but beat Everton 4-1 at the weekend.

They were without a trio of key players – Yoanne Wissa, Sven Botman and Nick Pope. Pope and Botman have been regular starters for Howe this season, but Wissa hasn’t yet started a competitive game for Newcastle after signing for £55 million in the summer.

The English manager had a positive update on Wissa: “He participated in an 11v11 training game while we were at Everton, and I think he will have another one at some stage this week. We will see how close he is.”

Pope has started 12 of Newcastle’s 13 league games this season, and on the goalkeeper, Howe said: “No further update from Saturday. He is probably one of a number of players that we will analyse early this week and try and get a proper diagnosis.

“I was disappointed for Nick when he picked up the injury when he did and I am disappointed for us because we need him.”

Aaron Ramsdale started his first league game of the season in the win against Everton.

Sven Botman has picked up a new knock, having missed the majority of 2024 with a knee injury. On the Dutchman, Howe said: “Sven is going to see a specialist in the next couple of days just to get a definitive opinion on whether he needs an injection or whether he is able to rest for a few days and then resume training. So we’ll wait and see.”