The Chronicle (South Tyneside and Durham)
Howe much longer until squad gets stronger?
MORE OPTIONS AS INJURY LIST CLEARS UP
NEWCASTLE United boss Eddie Howe will be counting down the days until he can name one of his strongest teams in months with the injury list finally starting to clear up.
With Harvey Barnes now fit and firing again, the next big star to return should be Alexander Isak, followed by Joe Willock and Elliot Anderson then Nick Pope.
Of course, the way United’s luck has gone, Howe has been unable to name his strongest XI this term for the majority of the campaign.
But he should soon have more options and if he can get them back next month it will be just in time for the run-in where anything can happen in the Premier League. The FA Cup could also be huge for Newcastle and that very winnable trip to Championship side Blackburn is a defining night of the season.
Win that and there will be a sixth round coming up in March, and Howe knows he could come close to full strength by that stage and just 90 minutes away from Wembley.
March will also see a home game against Wolverhampton Wanderers on the horizon, a trip to Chelsea and a key clash with West Ham on Tyneside.
He could very easily be penning some strong team sheets next month, especially towards the end of it. Howe has to accept that he will have to wait longer for Joelinton, with May pencilled in for the Brazilian’s return to action, while banned Sandro Tonali is out until August.
It remains to be seen if Callum Wilson’s arm injury is long-term while Jacob Murphy is also being assessed after a calf problem suffered in the warm-up at Forest. But Howe should soon have some good options at his disposal.
What would be deemed as Newcastle’s
Injured Alexander Isak leaves the field at Villa Park
strongest XI in the next month or so if everybody returns and nobody picks up new injuries?
Pope seems certain to reclaim his place between the posts, while Kieran Trippier, Fabian Schar, Sven Botman and Dan Burn appear to be Howe’s preferred back four.
Many would have Tino Livramento in the side ahead of Burn and while he has been outpaced in recent games by wingers, he also weighed in with 14 clearances in the hard-fought 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest. If Howe gets Willock back to full fitness soon he will have a big call to make on either Sean Longstaff and Lewis Miley, who have both performed very well in recent times.
What Howe – who also has Miguel Almiron available – would give to have an attack that boasted Barnes, Isak and Anthony Gordon is a valid question but that could soon be a reality. Barnes is right-footed but his preferred position is left wing, while Gordon has been used on the left but has also operated as a right winger 45 times in his career, scoring seven goals and making three in that position.
Like at left-back and like in midfield, it will be up for debate who forms the dream starting trio for the Magpies in the run-in. Given Howe has spoken about his lack of ability to rotate, simply having choices again must feel like a luxury.