Newcastle United manager Eddie Howeplaceholder image
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe | AFP via Getty Images
Malick Thiaw will miss Newcastle United’s reverse fixture with Qarabag after being booked on Wednesday.
Eddie Howe does not view Malick Thiaw’s suspension as a positive for Newcastle United.
The German picked up a needless yellow card in the 6-1 win over Qarabag. In doing so, Thiaw will now miss the reverse fixture on Tuesday which, given the aggregate scoreline, promises to be a non-event.
Dan Burn and Joelinton also walked a tightrope but came through the trip to Azerbaijan without being cautioned. One-game bans are imposed after three yellows, with further suspensions after every odd-numbered caution that follows.
Bookings are wiped out upon completion of the quarter-final. They do not carry forward to the semi-final stage - leaving Burn and Joelinton on thin ice when Newcastle expectedly progress past Qarabag.
Eddie Howe reacts to Malick Thiaw ban
Speaking post-match, Howe dismissed suggestions that Thiaw’s ban is a good thing for Newcastle. The 24-year-old has played 37 games consecutively across all competitions but, alongside Burn, is the only fit centre-back available.
"I don't see it as a blessing, I see it as a negative,” Howe told reporters. “We are really stretched in that position. Of course, it gives us no debate, we have to give Malick a rest. He is probably going to need a rest. He hasn't had one for a while. It could be a positive for him but I don't see it as a positive for the team."
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‘Tie not over’ - Eddie Howe
Howe also refused to get carried away at the full-time whistle and wants his players to do a professional job on Tyneside next week. He told TNT Sports: “Overall, it's just a great day for us. We know the tie's not dead or over, but we've put ourselves in a great position.
“I just think we've got to be professional in every moment. We know our football can change. We've just seen that we've won three games in the blink of an eye and the feeling's very different. We respect every opponent and we have to be very good in the next game.”
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