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Newcastle United vs Leicester City: Eddie Howe fears Joe Willock could be out of the season with injury

The Newcastle manager then provide fitness update about his players. He is more concerned about Joe Willock’s hamstring problem.

By Karthik Raman | May 19, 2023 | 3 Min Read

Newcastle United have one foot in the top four places of the Premier League after registering a thumping win over Brighton & Hove Albion. It is not an easy task to play Brighton in the current scenario, as they are one of the in-form teams around. However, Newcastle were at the top of their game to register a dominant 4-1 victory on Thursday night. That result has put the Magpies in driving seat to secure Champions League football for next season. A win over Leicester City on Monday night will guarantee them a place in Europe’s elite competition for next campaign.

Eddie Howe, manager of Newcastle United, was ecstatic with the level of football played by his side against Brighton on Thursday night. He wants a repeat of the same on Monday night against Leicester City in the Premier League. On facing Leicester, Howe was quoted by his club’s website as saying, “We’ll want the same again. I’ve got no doubt the crowd will be there for us. We really have to take the good feeling from Brighton and the confidence that game should give us but then forget it and focus purely on a totally different game. Tactically, it will be totally different but we have to be ready for a tough match.”

The Newcastle manager then provide fitness update about his players. He is more concerned about Joe Willock’s hamstring problem. “Today, I’ll be straight to the physio room after this to see how everybody is. We’ve got a few concerns. The lads gave so much to the game yesterday and they’ve given a lot to the season physically. I hope there’s no serious effects,” he added.

Joe Willock may be in trouble: Eddie Howe

“It looks like Joe Willock may be in trouble with his hamstring and we might lose him for the rest of the season but that’s unclear as I sit here now. Fingers crossed, our team will still be strong. Sometimes, after a game, there’s a lot of emotion running through the players’ bodies so injuries can appear worse at that moment. I certainly hope that is the case and they wake up today feeling a bit better. As this moment, (Sean Longstaff) is doubtful. He hasn’t trained. He’s improving but we’ll wait and see.”

Eddie Howe went on to praise his star front man Callum Wilson. He has been on fire this season after scoring his 18th Premier League goal of the season. “He’d probably tell me there’s been a better spell somewhere down the line. My first season with him at Bournemouth, in the Championship, I thought he was electric but this is at the very highest level. This is against the best defenders and teams in the world,” he added. “I’d say he’s performing at the best level I’ve ever seen him at. I complimented him yesterday not in terms of the goal he scored but his intelligence on the press for us. He is the one that has to set the chain off and has to get it right otherwise the team suffers. I thought his tactical understanding was as good as I’ve seen.”