Sandro Tonali of Newcastle United FC (8) receives treatment
Eddie Howe has declared that Newcastle United have a "clean bill of health" after the 1-0 win over West Ham ahead of Wembley on Sunday.
Newcastle will go into the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool without injured duo Lewis Hall and Sven Botman while Anthony Gordon is suspended. But the huge positive was that Howe picked up no new injuries for his stars during the battling victory over the Hammers.
That was despite Nick Pope and Sandro Tonali going down with injury scares at the London Stadium. Both needed treatment on the field while Alexander Isak went off before the end.
But Howe, speaking at his post-game press conference, told Chronicle Live: "We're hopeful that we have a clean bill of health. I don't think you ever know until the next day or two, but at the moment, I think we look OK."
When asked why Pope got the nod ahead of Martin Dubravka, Howe said: "I always do that. And players can change always change your mind in training by how they train and how they play. Nick has played our last three Premier League games, I thought he played really well tonight.
"The goalkeeper situation has not been clear as both goalkeepers have been high-class. I was pleased with Nick [Pope] today."
Howe hailed the win as one of the best of the campaign, and added: "That is one of our best wins of the season, not in terms of performance but desire and heart.
"All the big ingredients you need to be a successful team. Need to win when the game is tight and find a way to get over the line. We defended really well after the first three minutes which were a bit scary. Deserved win.
"That’s why for me it was such a good win, it would be easy for the players to be distracted but they were present."