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Eddie Howe Leicester press conference – The key messages ahead of St James’ Park clash

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The Eddie Howe Leicester Press Conference has taken place.

The [Newcastle United](https://www.themag.co.uk/2024/12/newcastle-united-make-public-43-people-banned-so-far-this-season-for-selling-on-tickets-for-home-games/) Head Coach speaking to the media ahead of Saturday’s game.

United back at St James’ Park for a 3pm kick-off.

Leicester City the opposition, as Newcastle look to bounce back to winning ways.

**Eddie Howe Leicester press conference on Friday:**

_“Certainly a difficult week to navigate through but it’s all about being positive._

_“Very quickly you have to turn it around._

_“We’ve got a game to play on Saturday, then another midweek game in a very important competition._

_“So very quickly there could be a lot of positive.”_

**Eddie Howe on current form:**

_“Every season you have difficult spells within it._

_“When you’re not winning consistently and you’re not in your best rhythm, it’s difficult but you have to find solutions and we’re trying to do that._

_“This week we have spent a lot of time seeing what tweaks we can make and how we can improve different functions of the team – that never stops.”_

**Eddie Howe’s team-news ahead of tomorrow’s game:**

_“Joe Willock we haven’t seen train yet but he’s making good progress and Lewis Miley has come through a couple of really good games for his continued return and he’s looking really good so I’m pleased with him.”_

**Eddie Howe on Nick Pope:**

_“He’s carried a knee injury this week._

_“Initially we thought it was nothing but he’s seeking some specialist opinion today and we’ll see if he’s available for tomorrow.”_

**Eddie Howe on Sven Botman:**

_“He’s been training consistently now for around four weeks but that was the plan._

_“We are taking medical advice and trying to follow the right protocols for the injury he’s had to try and make sure we give him the best chance to stay fit._

_“The plan is late December or early January, at the earliest, he will be available for us.”_

**Eddie Howe on Callum Wilson (who Eddie Howe has said is set to be missing for at least eight weeks with a new hamstring injury):**

_“Really feel for Callum._

_“We see the work, the dedication and professionalism that he’s shown._

_“You have to understand how difficult this season has been for him._

_“He’s had a couple of setbacks when he’s looked so close to training regularly. He’s not cut corners, he’s gone through a vigorous process to keep himself fit._

_“When you see him not get the end result this time, I feel really sad for him but I back him to come back again and have the mental resilience he will need to fight again because we know his qualities.”_

So it sounds like Emil Krafth, Jamaal Lascelles, Callum Wilson and Sven Botman are the four who will be missing for sure tomorrow. Whilst in the balance for Pope and Willock.

**Newcastle United upcoming matches:**

**Saturday 14 December** – Newcastle v Leicester (3pm)

**Wednesday 18 December** – [Newcastle v Brentford](https://www.themag.co.uk/2024/11/we-cant-complain-about-newcastle-v-brentford-quarter-final-scheduling-advantage-united-newcastle-united/) (7.45pm) Sky Sports+ (Carabao Cup)

**Saturday 21 December** – Ipswich v Newcastle (3pm)

**Thursday 26 December** – Newcastle v Villa (3pm) Amazon

**Monday 30 December** – Man U v Newcastle (8pm) Sky Sports

**Saturday 4 January** – Tottenham v Newcastle (12.30pm) TNT Sports

**Sunday 12 January –** Newcastle v Bromley (3pm) BBC iPlayer (FA Cup)

**Wednesday 15 January** – Newcastle v Wolves (7.30pm) TNT Sports

**Saturday 18 January** – Newcastle v Bournemouth (12.30pm) TNT Sports

**Saturday 25 January** – Southampton v Newcastle (3pm)

**Saturday 1 February –** Newcastle v Fulham (3pm)

**Saturday 15 February –** Man City v Newcastle (3pm)

**Sunday 23 February –** Newcastle v Forest (Time TBC) Sky Sports

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