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00:00So yeah, we are at Whitley Park, the home of Newcastle United's Media Centre and the Under-21s
00:05where we've been speaking to Jason Tindall this morning, not Eddie Howe, and that's probably the
00:09best place to start because, yeah, it was confirmed ahead of the press conference,
00:14this morning that Eddie Howe wouldn't be in attendance due to illness. Jason Tindall then
00:19provided an update on Eddie Howe, and Eddie Howe hasn't been at the training ground for the last
00:24couple of days, Zach's been bed-ridden, so Jason Tindall and his coaches have taken on training
00:30this week. He says preparations haven't been impacted, they've still prepared very, very
00:36well for the Manchester United game, and they hope to have Eddie Howe back, or they expect
00:41to have Eddie Howe back on the touchline on Sunday. There's been a couple of times when
00:46Jason Tindall has stepped in for Eddie Howe last year, ahead of the Luton Town game at
00:51home, and Eddie Howe missed that one, but was present at the training ground. And then
00:56the year before as well, just before Eddie Howe, the first week of Eddie Howe on the job,
01:01Mr. Brentford game, he's opening game because of Covid, a week later, Newcastle travelled to
01:05Arsenal, Jason Tindall done the pre-Arsenal press conference, and Eddie Howe was back on
01:10the touchline. So yeah, expect to see Eddie Howe back on the touchline on Sunday, but it's
01:14not a case of him avoiding the media. To be fair, Eddie Howe rarely misses the press conference,
01:19always do these press duties, but obviously he's been really struggling with and on this
01:23bug this week. So now our best wishes to Eddie Howe, hope he makes a quick recovery, and yeah,
01:29we'll see him on Sunday.
01:30What is a big game for Newcastle United, Manchester United, albeit they're not the Manchester United
01:35of the old, it's always a big occasion, especially a change in the sport. The crowd always get
01:40up for the big games. And as I say, usually facing a team in 16th position isn't a big game,
01:45but it's Manchester United, even though they're not in the greatest positions. They have made
01:52sort of minor improvements, I would say, the last couple of weeks. I haven't watched them
01:55a couple of times myself. Got a good draw in Lyon on Thursday, albeit they conceded the last
02:03minute to equaliser, but I thought they played quite well, defended quite well. Of course,
02:08last time the Premier League they drew with Manchester City, I think they've only lost
02:11one of the last six games in all competitions, actually. So as much as I expect Newcastle
02:16to go and get a result, Manchester United aren't dreadful, shall we say. But I do think,
02:22yeah, with everything involved in that, the crowd, the big game feel, I do expect Newcastle
02:27United to get up for that one.
02:30Injury news ahead of the game. Anthony Gordon trained on Thursday, came through the session
02:36well, but it's been assessed. So by the sounds of Jason Tindle sort of, give the game away
02:42if you like, and it sounds like he will be on the bench on Sunday with Harvey Barnes continuing
02:47down the left-hand side, which is only fair in my opinion. I think Harvey Barnes has earned
02:52his stripes in the last couple of games and got a goal at Leicester as well. So I find
02:59you, I think it was his first goal since December. So I do think Harvey Barnes has more than earned
03:04his position on the left-hand side and rightfully will start the game. But to have Anthony Gordon
03:08back on the bench is a big boost for Newcastle United in terms of boosting them, attacking options,
03:13because Joe Willock will miss out this weekend due to concussion protocols. So Newcastle's
03:19attacking options were light on Monday with Willock and Gordon both missing out. But yeah,
03:26a bit of firepower there if indeed Gordon is on the bench as expected. Alexander Isaac, of course,
03:31a lot of thought around his fitness and dealing with a thigh injury, but Alexander Isaac is fine
03:39and is expected to lead the line at St. James' Park on Sunday. So yeah, can Newcastle get three points?
03:48Fingers crossed. As I say, I expect them to. It's at the business end of the season now where
03:53Champions League qualification is in their hands. Arsenal's win against Real Madrid in midweek and
03:58Schroed, that fifth spot in the preliminary, will seal Champions League qualification next season.
04:03Newcastle there, they've got a game in hand which is against Crystal Palace in midweek, so if Newcastle
04:07can win their next two games, then you can see that they're on the verge of Champions League qualification
04:13ahead of the remaining six games of the season. So it's a big week for Newcastle United. Of course,
04:17Aston Villa are coming at the end of that as well after they play PSG in their second leg of the
04:22Champions League quarterfinal on Tuesday. So yeah, a big week for Newcastle and if it can come through
04:28with maximum points, then Champions League football looks like it'll be coming back to St. James' Park.
04:34But that's easier said than done. But still, as I say, as much as there's points there, I do think there's still
04:40a long way to go, albeit the season is near in its conclusion. But yeah, it's still going to take
04:46a big effort from Newcastle to get back into the Champions League. But if they do that, alongside
04:50winning the Carabao Cup season, then you will go down as a magnificent season for Newcastle United.
04:55And I do sense that the players and Eddie Howe and Jason Tindall feel that from the dressing room.
05:01They don't just want to settle for a Carabao Cup. They want to mark the season with Champions League
05:05football and all the luxuries that that brings in terms of increased revenue for the transfer
05:10budget. And some are, of course, the calibre of opposition you can face in the Champions League.