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Howe Strikes Optimistic Tone Ahead of Etihad Clash While Addressing Injury Concerns
- Chris "The American Mag"
- Feb 20
- 3 min read
Eddie Howe faced the media on Friday morning ahead of Newcastle United’s Premier League trip to Manchester City on Saturday night, fully aware of the scale of the challenge awaiting his side.
The Magpies travel to the Etihad on the back of a dominant midweek Champions League win over Qarabag in Azerbaijan. While the result boosted confidence, the long journey home and quick turnaround add another layer of difficulty to what is already one of the toughest fixtures in English football.
Newcastle have not won a league match at the Etihad since 2000. Ending that run would require something special, but Howe believes his side head into the game with genuine momentum.
Momentum Building
The manager was upbeat about recent performances, particularly three consecutive away victories.
He described it as a “great return” and pointed to stronger individual displays as a key factor behind the upturn in form.
“There are a lot of positives from the last few games,” Howe said. “Performances have been really good and individual performances have been a lot stronger.”
There is a clear sense that the squad is functioning well, with confidence growing at an important stage of the season.
Team News: Encouragement and Frustration
On the injury front, there was both good and bad news.
Sven Botman is edging closer to a return and could be involved this weekend, which would be a major boost defensively. Tino Livramento continues to recover from a hamstring issue but remains on track for an early March return.
Lewis Miley and Bruno Guimarães are still unavailable, and there was a fresh setback as Yoane Wissa picked up what Howe described as a “nasty knock” in training. He will miss the City game but is expected to return for the next fixture, possibly the second leg against Qarabag.
It is frustrating timing, but Howe appeared confident it would not be a long absence.
Respect for the Benchmark
Howe spoke with clear admiration for Manchester City and Pep Guardiola, describing them as the Premier League benchmark over recent years.
He highlighted how City continue to evolve, even after squad rebuilds, and remain the standard others are chasing.
However, there was no sense of resignation in his tone.
“Every time we play them, we learn something more about ourselves,” he said, referencing previous trips to the Etihad where Newcastle competed well but were undone by moments of quality or costly mistakes.
The objective this time is simple: narrow the gap, stay competitive, and deliver their best possible performance.
Gordon’s Role and Recovery Focus
Anthony Gordon’s form was another talking point. Howe praised his attacking quality and the defensive work that led to goals in midweek. Encouraging him to remain “selfish” in the right moments signals the manager’s trust in his clinical edge.
Fatigue from the midweek travel was also addressed. Howe admitted recovery time is limited, but playing Manchester City sharpens the mind.
There are no excuses. The players know the level required.
A Test of Progress
Newcastle head into the weekend with belief built on recent away success and improved attacking rhythm. Manchester City remain in the title race, with pressure on them as well after rivals have dropped points.
It remains a daunting task. But football has a way of rewarding brave performances.
If Newcastle stay disciplined, limit errors, and take their chances, they have an opportunity to show just how far they have come.
Saturday night will tell us more.
Howay the lads.
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