Newcastle United are back in Champions League action tomorrow night, taking on La Liga side Athletic Bilbao in our fourth match of the league phase following recent wins over Benfica and Union SG.
With that big game barely 24 hours away, Eddie Howe has been speaking to the local, national and overseas media in his pre-match press conference from St James’ Park.
Howe started by confirming reports that Bruno Guimaraes has been unwell, revealing that the Brazilian will be assessd tomorrow after he wasn’t able to train with the main group today.
Illness in the camp has clearly been a theme, as the boss revealed that Jacob Murphy has also been under the weather lately alongside Sandro Tonali and Kieran Trippier; who sat out Sunday’s defeat to West Ham through illness.
Murphy and Tonali have recovered and Trippier could return tomorrow after training today, but it seems both he and Bruno will be checked ahead of the game, while Tino Livramento (knee) and Yoane Wissa (knee) remain out:
> _“There’s been a bit of illness going through the squad._
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> _“Various players have picked something up._ _Sandro initially, Jacob Murphy, Kieran Trippier and now Bruno._
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> _“We’re making a decision on Bruno tomorrow._ _He’s such an important player for us and he’s clearly not been himself and that’s why he missed training.”_
Hopefully the lads can bounce back with a big response to Sunday’s horror show at West Ham and build on our recent run of home wins, which saw us beat Benfica, Fulham and Spurs prior in our last three on Tyneside.