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00:00Eddie Howe spoke to the media on Friday morning ahead of Saturday's Premier League trip to Manchester City.
00:06Only one place to start and that is on the injury front because it wasn't looking too pretty after that 3-2 win at Birmingham last weekend.
00:12Sven Botman and Anthony Gordon missing out on the squad altogether and Dan Byrne came off a finish around the 55th minute of that game as well.
00:20It wasn't looking good but Eddie Howe delivered a positive injury update this morning.
00:24Anthony Gordon has trained this week. Recovering from that quad issue, he's expected to start on the left-hand side where Joe Willock performed so well at St Andrew last weekend.
00:34Dan Byrne is close so I suspect if he's fit he will play because Sven Botman, who again the injury isn't serious, but he won't be fit this weekend.
00:44So Dan Byrne, if fit, will be Newcastle's only fit left-sided centre-half. So if Dan Byrne is fit, I'd imagine he'll slot into that back four alongside Fabian Scheer.
00:54But if not, you'll see a centre-back pairing of Emile Craft and Fabian Scheer.
01:00As on the subject of Fabian Scheer, Eddie Howe confirmed that talks were ongoing between him, Fabian Scheer's representatives and Paul Mitchell over a new contract.
01:10His contract expires at the end of the season but I think everyone will be in agreement that Fabian Scheer should get a new deal.
01:17He's been such a fantastic player for Newcastle, under Eddie Howe mostly and that's why he's played the majority of his games.
01:25I'm just for Newcastle and over half of those have come under Eddie Howe.
01:29He's been pretty much an ever-present ball. His suspensions and a couple of knocks there and then but I think he deserves his new deal.
01:38Another big talking point, Alexander Izak or Erlend Haaland?
01:42Eddie Howe was asked that question at this morning's press conference.
01:45He of course picked Alexander Izak, said he wouldn't sop him for anyone in world football and I'm on Eddie Howe's side on that one.
01:53But yeah, we're going to see two of Europe's best strikers go head-to-head at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
02:00Which one will come out on top? Izak, for me, I think is a better overall striker. Erlend Haaland is a beast, prolific, cool scorer.
02:11But Alexander Izak is a real all-rounder, just how you think about him.
02:16Can play anywhere across the front, very quick, good size.
02:20So if you're asking me the question, I would also pick Alexander Izak.
02:25But yeah, hopefully it's Izak on the score sheet tomorrow.
02:28Erlend Haaland isn't, because if that happens, good chance he'll win or at least get something from the game.
02:33It's not a happy hunting ground for Newcastle at all. They've only won once there at the Etihad Stadium.
02:40The last Premier League win was actually at Main Road, which I think was 2000, 1999, round about there.
02:48So the only win came in the League Cup at the Etihad Stadium when Rolando Ahrens and Moussa Sissoko scored in a 2-0 win.
02:57So Newcastle have not got a good record there.
02:59But in a season where they've beaten Manchester United away, when they have such a bad record, Old Trafford as well,
03:07maybe this is a time when Newcastle go and record another successful win in Manchester.
03:15But yeah, fingers crossed. It's a big game in terms of context of the season.
03:19Because Man City, for as good as they are, as it stands, are in a battle for top four.
03:25And Newcastle want to get inside that top four as well.
03:28So a big game. Let's see if Newcastle will come out on top.
03:32Fingers crossed that they can, because they've got a big week, a big few weeks coming up before that Carabao Cup final.
03:40It's on everyone's minds, I think, already.
03:41But Etihad will be keen to ensure that Carabao Cup final is parked for now.
03:46And Newcastle can get a real string of positive results heading into that final against Liverpool.