Howe on Man City, midfield balance and delivering a 'big performance'

Howe on Man City, midfield balance and delivering a ‘big performance’

Posted by Admin September 27, 2024 Football

Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe has been speaking to the media before Saturday’s Premier League game against Manchester City (kick-off 12:30 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

In terms of fresh injuries, Howe said that striker Alexander Isak is “still nursing a toe problem” and is a doubt for the game.
Midfielder Sandro Tonali is “definitely knocking at the door” to start in the Premier League.
Defender Matt Targett has had a flare up of eczema which he has struggled with for the past few weeks. Howe is hoping to get him back in training on Friday but he will not be involved at the weekend.
On the Carabao Cup third-round tie against AFC Wimbledon being postponed in midweek because of flooding: “It gave us the opportunity to train, which was probably a good thing for us. [We had] two really good days where we have gone to work with the team and solved some of the issues from the Fulham game, so I look at that as a positive. If we had the game it would have been a positive but we didn’t and we always try to have a positive outlook on the situation.”
On Newcastle donating £15,000 to help AFC Wimbledon repair their pitch: “That’s where the football community does so well for each other because that support is vital. It looked in a really bad way. We wish them well and we hope their pitch gets back working very soon.”
Howe spoke about the balance he is trying to achieve in midfield: “There is a good harmony between all the players. We understand our roles and the positions we’re playing, and we execute that and what that position requires. I’ve got no issue with the balance in midfield. Whoever plays, we’re looking for them to deliver a Newcastle performance.”
On whether they need to deliver a big performance against Manchester City after losing at Fulham: “We always need to deliver. There is always that pressure but yes, I think we have a responsibility to show our true selves – to turn up and give our best. That feeling is always there, from me and everybody. I think the players know – they are very honest with themselves as well. They know that last week wasn’t good enough so that internal reflection can be really healthy and sometimes a performance like that can be healthy for the long term if you use it in the right way. That’s what we are trying to do.”
Howe spoke about the challenges of facing City: “We’ve had some really good games against them at home – maybe not away. Reflecting on those games, there were nearly moments for us, especially in the last home game. We felt we did a lot right but didn’t get the result and that’s probably testament to them and their quality and their attitude, the way that they fought to the end and scored a goal in the dying seconds. It shows that against that type of top quality that Manchester City possess you have to be good for the whole 95 minutes. You can’t switch off for a second. Defensively, we are going to have to be very good in this game.”