Howe to be on Toon touchline despite Covid confusion
EDDIE HOWE will take charge of Newcastle for the first time at Arsenal today after testing positive for Covid-19, although there is some confusion over when his symptoms began and 10-day isolation expired. The 43-year-old missed last Saturday’s 3-3 home draw against Brentford after learning weekend. He was confined to his bed for long spells this week. Medical staff traced back Howe’s symptoms to at least 10 days ago, meaning he is now clear of his mandatory isolation period. However, assistant Jason Tindall said yesterday that Howe was surprised when testing positive last Friday because he had no symptoms. If so, that would suggest his isolation should have run until this coming Monday. Newcastle say they followed all protocols and that Howe hadn’t recognised early symptoms as being linked to Covid. Tindall said: ‘When Eddie tested positive he was very surprised because he had no symptoms. ‘Eddie was very similar to when I started to feel my symptoms. You feel very up and down. One minute you feel like you’re OK, then all of a sudden it knocks you for six. You just need your bed and need to sleep. He’s been a bit like that, certainly in the earlier part of the week, when he was feeling at his worst.’ The Premier League are satisfied that the club adhered to correct guidelines and are happy for Howe to be in the dugout today after returning a negative PCR test yesterday. The club’s medical team are also confident that Howe is no longer infectious and does not pose a risk to his players, who all tested negative this week.