Internationals could affect selection
EDDIE Howe will make a late call on some of Newcastle’s international stars ahead of the trip to Tottenham this afternoon.
Midfield maestro Bruno Guimaraes only returned on Thursday night after a long-haul flight from South America after being on duty for Brazil.
Meanwhile, striker Chris Wood has played three World Cup qualifiers for New Zealand in Qatar.
Howe has competition for places in midfield and also has Dwight Gayle vying for a slot in his frontline.
When asked about returning international stars, Howe said: “We’ll take it on an individual basis. I think the travelling time is probably the biggest concern.
“I know what I feel like after a long flight. I think we have to talk with the players, see how they feel and make a decision based on that.”
Howe was delighted to see Wood become New Zealand’s all-time leading scorer after goals against minnows such as New Caledonia and the Solomon Islands.
He added of the £25million striker: “Knowing him as I do, he’s a very humble, down-to-earth guy, a brilliant professional and team player. He deserves that recognition. I’m looking forward to seeing him. I haven’t seen him yet but obviously we’ve communicated.”
Guimaraes also bagged a goal during the international break against Bolivia while Paraguayan playmkaer Miguel Almiron was also on the scoresheet against Ecuador.
Howe knows that those feats won’t do any harm to his stars’ confidence.
He said: “I am also pleased for Bruno to get his first goal for Brazil and for Miggy to score. Hopefully, for those guys that have gone away, it’s been a really good time for them.”