Eddie Howe Reveals Injury Status of Key Newcastle Pair Ahead of Burnley Test

Former Burnley manager Eddie Howe has offered a detailed update on several key Newcastle United players ahead of Saturday’s Premier League meeting with Scott Parker’s Burnley at St James’ Park (3pm kick-off).

The Magpies return to league action after a demanding midweek fixture against Tottenham Hotspur, and Howe faces late fitness calls on Sandro Tonali and Yoane Wissa, while also monitoring the recovery of defender Sven Botman.

Tonali Injury Update

Midfielder Sandro Tonali was forced off at half-time during the 1-1 draw with Tottenham after picking up a knock. The Italian international underwent scans on Thursday, and while the results appear to have ruled out any major issue, his participation against Burnley remains uncertain.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Eddie Howe said:

“Sandro has had a scan. We don’t think it’s too bad. We’re giving him every chance to declare himself fit, if possible.
It was a knock, very similar to what Joelinton suffered — a dead-leg type of injury. But Sandro’s issue was concerning enough for him to get scanned. We’ll see how he is today and give him every chance to be fit.”

Tonali’s potential absence would be a blow for Eddie Howe, who has relied heavily on the 24-year-old’s composure and control in midfield since his summer arrival from AC Milan.

Sven Botman Recovery Progress

Newcastle also remain without defender Sven Botman, who has been nursing a back problem. Howe revealed that the Dutch centre-back has recently undergone treatment in a bid to speed up his recovery.

“Sven has had an injection in his back,” Eddie Howe confirmed. “I haven’t seen him personally since the Tottenham game, but we’re hopeful the injection will help bring about his return quite quickly. There’s a time period for it to work — around a week — and then we’ll see how he responds.”

Botman’s absence has forced Newcastle to reshuffle their defensive line in recent weeks, with Fabian Schär and Jamaal Lascelles likely to continue their partnership if the Dutchman remains sidelined.

Wissa Nearing Return

Meanwhile, forward Yoane Wissa is edging closer to full fitness and could be included in the matchday squad this weekend. The £55 million summer signing from Brentford has yet to make his debut for the club after battling a muscle issue, but recent signs are positive.

“He’s getting closer,” Howe said. “We played an 11 v 11 game for him on Wednesday, which gave him about half an hour, and he did well.
He’s come through everything so far, but we still have today’s training session before making a decision. We need to make sure he’s not just fit, but fit to make a difference and perform at his highest level.”

Busy Schedule Ahead

Saturday’s clash with Burnley kicks off a crucial run of fixtures for Newcastle. The Magpies face Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League next week before making the short trip to the Stadium of Light for the highly anticipated Tyne-Wear derby against Sunderland.

With the games coming thick and fast, Howe is eager to manage his squad carefully as Newcastle look to climb the Premier League table and maintain their momentum in Europe.