November 1st 2024.
In recent news, Alexander Isak has been on fire, scoring two goals in his last two games. However, it seems that his streak may come to an end as Newcastle prepares to face Arsenal this weekend. According to Eddie Howe, Isak and fellow player Anthony Gordon may not be able to play due to some lingering injuries.
The Magpies are set to host the Gunners in an early kick-off at St. James' Park. While Arsenal has been struggling with injuries, particularly in their defense, Howe is also facing some fitness issues within his own team. During Friday's press conference, he revealed that he will have to make some last-minute decisions on who will be in the starting lineup.
This comes after Newcastle's recent matches against Chelsea, where they faced the Blues twice in one week. They lost 2-1 in the Premier League but managed to secure a 2-0 win in the Carabao Cup. Isak, who has been a target for Arsenal, started both games. Howe hinted that Isak and others in the same position may have to be dropped for the upcoming match against Arsenal.
Gordon, on the other hand, missed the league defeat against Chelsea due to a groin injury. Although he returned to start in the cup match, it may be too risky to push him back into the lineup so soon. Howe expressed his concerns, stating, "It will be a tough ask physically for someone to play all three games in six days."
He also mentioned that both Isak and Gordon have been dealing with some niggling injuries, with Isak having a toe issue and Gordon struggling with a groin injury. Howe and his team will need to assess their condition before making a final decision on their availability for the match.
In addition to Isak and Gordon, players like Lewis Hall, Fabian Schar, Sandro Tonali, and Joelinton all started in both matches against Chelsea and may also be at risk of being dropped to the bench for the game against Arsenal. It seems that Howe is prioritizing the physical wellbeing of his players and will choose his starting lineup accordingly.
Meanwhile, veteran striker Callum Wilson will definitely miss the match as he continues to recover from a back injury. Although there were hopes that he would make his first appearance of the season, Howe has made it clear that he won't rush Wilson's rehabilitation and he won't be back in action until after the November international break.
Speaking about Wilson's progress, Howe stated, "Callum is doing okay, he's building his load again. There was no real injury, but just a feeling in his body that he couldn't push as hard as he wanted. We'll see how he is, but probably with the two-week gap, it's best to leave it."
As the match against Arsenal draws near, it will be interesting to see who will make the starting lineup for Newcastle. With some players dealing with injuries and others needing rest after playing multiple games in a short period of time, Howe will have to carefully choose his team to face the struggling Gunners.
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