Dominic Scurr reflects on Eddie Howe's pre-match press conference ahead of Newcastle United's trip to West Ham United on Monday night.
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00:00Good morning everyone from the Newcastle United Media Centre where we've been speaking to Eddie Howe ahead of Newcastle United's trip to West Ham United in the Premier League on Monday night.
00:11It's been a busy week, a newsy week for Newcastle United on the injury front, the finances, speaking to Darren Eales, season ticket details announced so plenty to discuss around the club.
00:23Obviously the finances probably doesn't really concern Eddie Howe too much outside of a transfer window at least but certainly the injuries because it's been unfortunate for Newcastle, unlucky in some ways for Newcastle where lose Anthony Gordon to suspension.
00:40That suspension has been completely ratified now, the deadline for an appeal has been missed. Newcastle have decided against appealing upon looking at the replays for the inspection of that even though Eddie Howe suggested after the Brighton game that the club could appeal it.
00:58Since then, now lost Lewis Hall for the rest of the season due to injury. Eddie Howe described that as a devastating blow for the player and for Newcastle because it's been so important and so effective for Newcastle this season.
01:11Then also Sven Botman reports emerged earlier in the week that Sven Botman would, like Lewis Hall, undergo surgery and miss the upcoming games. Though a little more uncertain as to the timescale of Sven Botman's injuries.
01:27He's obviously been out for a month with a knee issue. Now surgery, that's going to be by default an extended spell on the sidelines but just how long, it's obvious speculation. Will his season be over on social media and Sven Botman didn't take too kindly to that as I'm sure some people will be aware.
01:47Eddie Howe was asked about Sven Botman. It's a minor knee operation he'll have to undergo to remove some fluid from his knee. Not related to the ACL issues that he's had in the past but will be enough to keep him on the sidelines for another 8 weeks. So we're looking at the back end of the season for Sven Botman.
02:07But I'd say with any Sven Botman injury, just take it with a pinch of salt because he has played so little football. So 8 weeks could turn into a little bit longer is all I'd say because what happened after the Arsenal game a month ago when he picked up the initial knock, he was expected to be back for Manchester City and as it's transpired, out for another game, another game, another game and then all of a sudden needs an operation.
02:33So just take that with a little bit of a pinch of salt but 8 weeks and not an injury linked to his ACL issue that kept him out for 10 months and also the first half of last season in a separate ACL issue. So a bit of good news there but also bad news in the fact that he will miss the upcoming games.
02:54So another big talking point, Alexander Isak because he went off with an issue against Brighton on Sunday. Eddie Howe described it as tightness. Was it indeed tightness? Eddie Howe continued with that message saying it was fatigue with Alexander Isak but he's trained this week. You may have seen pictures of Alexander Isak training at Dorsey Park just behind me there.
03:18Not just in front of me actually. So training individually though. So wait and see. Alexander Isak was spotted training on his own. Eddie Howe was asked whether he will play against West Ham United and Eddie Howe didn't quite give us that answer after he said if he's fit he will play but then also said Alexander Isak is fine.
03:42So with any Eddie Howe injury update just take with a little bit of a pinch of salt. So that was pretty much it looking ahead to West Ham United. It's obvious the sort of elephant in the room as such is the upcoming Cowboy Cup Final against Liverpool a week on Sunday but in terms of just looking ahead to the next game, West Ham, big one for Newcastle.
04:06Key players will be missing Anthony Gordon, Sven Bottman, Lewis Hall, Jamal Asselt also sidelined as well. Will Alexander Isak start? And the goalkeeping situation as well. Who starts in goal probably a big indicator to who starts the final as well. So we'll have all the reaction from Eddie Howe's press conference over on the Shields. We'll have all the build up to West Ham United over the weekend.
04:30And I'll be down there at the London Stadium on Monday so you can follow me at domskirr on X or follow the Shields Gazette as well. ShieldsGazette.com for all your latest Newcastle United content. Thanks for watching.