Toon squad near full strength for vital clash with Spurs Dilemma in defence for Spurs boss Vital victories for Reds and Foxes, Leeds lose again
at Villa, which came courtesy of an unusually tepid display by United, was just Newcastle’s fourth in the league this season and served as something of a wake-up call.
Howe said: “There are ways to lose, and I think the optimum way to lose is you perform very well and you’re unlucky to experience defeat.
“Against Aston Villa, probably not the case.
“We felt we didn’t perform and we lost, and that’s the worst taste of defeat that you can have, so that’s why we’re fiercely determined to try to respond this weekend.”
As a result, a game which already looked potentially pivotal has assumed even greater proportions.
Asked if it was the biggest league fixture of his time on Tyneside to date, Howe said: “Yes, I wouldn’t have an issue with anyone saying that. I think it is.
“It’s a cliche, but it is our next game so it is the most important. It’s what’s ahead of us that’s the most important, it’s not what’s behind.
“We have risen to these types of games this season and we can reflect back on other key moments of the season. Hopefully we can find another gear again.”
that was
EDDIE HOWE has a near full strength Newcastle United squad available to face Tottenham Hotspur. Allan Saint-maximin and Emil Krafth are among the absentees who will miss the clash with Spurs at St James’ Park this weekend, while Ryan Fraser continues to train with the Under-21s side having been dropped from the first-team set-up.
The Magpies can strengthen their grip on the Champions League places with a win over Spurs and can create a six-point buffer to their rivals in fifth place.
Howe’s side have a game in hand and could move nine points clear of Spurs with a win in that game.
Despite a disappointing defeat to Aston Villa last time out, the Toon are in a good place heading into the final eight games of the Premier League campaign.
Sweden international Emil
TOTTENHAM Hotspur boss Cristian Stellini has a decision to make in the heart of defence as his side prepare to take on Newcastle United today. Clement Lenglet limped off during Spurs’ defeat to Bournemouth last time out, with Davinson Sanchez replacing him.
The Colombian was booed on to the pitch by his own supporters in remarkable scenes, which could see the interim boss change tact. It’s unclear what the extent of Lenglet’s injury at present, making moving Cristian Romero over to the left of a back three, or putting
Krafth remains Newcastle’s only long-term absentee, having suffered an ACL injury in the Carabao Cup second-round win at Tranmere
Rovers in August.
Krafth has been included in the Magpies’
25-man Premier League squad, but the full-back recently stressed he is not putting himself under any pressure to return to action too soon.
Howe revealed Krafth was back on the grass and is hopeful of seeing the defender back on the pitch – but not before the end of the season.
The Toon head coach said: “He’s doing well.
“He’s confident about his recovery. I’m not sure we’ll see him in the squad before the end of the season but what we do hope is that we can implement him back into training very lightly towards the end of the season.”
Allan Saint-maximin has not played since the win over West Ham after a scan revealed damage to his hamstring. The French forward has returned to his homeland for intensive treatment, and took to social media to vow he would be ‘back soon’.
Howe said: “We are not 100% sure on Maxi. So we will wait and see.
“There’s not been a setback and it’s taken a little bit longer than we hope. With hamstring injuries we have to be careful.”
When asked about Saintmaximin being in France, Howe said: “He’s not in the country and joins us on Monday. He’s ok.” Japhet Tanganga in, just some potential options for Stellini.
The 48-year-old will be without Lucas Moura for the trip to St. James’ Park with the Brazilian serving the final match ban of his three-game suspension. Ben Davies is back in training and could return to face the Magpies having recovered from a thigh injury, but it seems a return to the matchday squad is more likely.
Yves Bissouma and Rodrigo Bentancur both have long-term injuries and will miss the clash with Eddie Howe’s side this weekend. Defenders
Ryan Sessegnon and Emerson Royal are also expected to miss the game.
Arnaut Danjuma put in an impressive display off the bench in the defeat to Bournemouth and he could start alongside Harry Kane and Heung-min Son up front. Stellini knows he must tinker his side if they want to come away from St James’ Park with a result.
A win for Spurs would see them move level on points with the Magpies, but Newcastle would hold on to their top-four berth, bar any ridiculous scoreline resulting in a huge swing in goal difference.
MOHAMED Salah’s winner boosted Liverpool’s outside chances of a top-four finish in the Premier League in a 3-2 home win against relegationthreatened Nottingham Forest.
Salah struck his 16th Premier League goal of the season after Forest had twice hit back to level and back-to-back wins have lifted Liverpool to within six points of fourth-placed Newcastle with seven games remaining.
Forest responded to Diogo Jota’s second-half double with equalisers from former Liverpool defender Neco Williams and Morgan Gibbs-white, but Steve Cooper’s side slipped to secondbottom, one point from safety.
Aston Villa’s five-game winning streak was halted as they drew 1-1 at Brentford, whose winless run was extended to six matches.
Ivan Toney’s 20th goal of the season gave Brentford a secondhalf lead before Villa rescued a point through Douglas Luiz’s late effort.
Leeds remain in deep relegation trouble as they slumped to a third straight defeat, losing 2-1 at Fulham in the lunchtime kickoff.
Second-half goals from Harry Wilson and Andreas Pereira put the Cottagers 2-0 up and although Leeds responded through Joao Palhinha’s own goal, a crucial equaliser was beyond them.
Leicester climbed out of the bottom three and to within a point of Leeds as they hit back to beat Wolves 2-1 in Dean Smith’s first home game in charge.
Matheus Cunha’s early opener for Wolves was cancelled out by Kelechi Iheanacho’s first-half penalty after Jamie Vardy had been brought down by Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa.
Timothy Castagne fired Leicester’s winner with 15 minutes left as the Foxes ended their nine-game winless league run with their first victory since early February.
Crystal Palace edged closer to safety after a goalless home draw against 10-man Everton, who dropped into the bottom three.
Everton defender Mason Holgate was sent off for his second yellow card late on and his side now sit below Leicester on goal difference.