All eyes will be on the Newcastle United teamsheet at 7pm tonight as Eddie Howe reveals his staritng XI to face Leicester City at the King Power Stadium. In particular, Magpies fans will be looking for the name of Alexander Isak with the Swedish striker a potential doubt for this evening’s game.
United are firm favourites against Ruud van Nistelrooy’s relegation-threatened side, but Howe will be hoping Isak has shaken off the effects of a groin issue he felt in the 2-1 victory over Brentford last week. The Newcastle head coach didn’t feel it was a major issue, but admitted he would have to monitor the striker over the weekend.
“He felt something and it wasn’t enough to stop him,” Howe said of Isak. “He wanted to play. He scored so we are pleased with that and now we have to make sure he is OK for Leicester.”
Isak isn’t the only injury doubt for tonight’s game, with Howe getting updates on Kieran Trippier, Anthony Gordon and Joelinton before naming his side. Trippier came off against Brentford with cramp-like problems, while Joelinton finished the game despite having treatment on a knee injury.
Gordon can return to the squad after completing his three-match suspension, but is not 100 per cent fit after he picked up a hip injury while playing for England last month. They have all had the weekend as extra recovery time, and Howe was not overly concerned over the niggles.
“We don’t think we have any big injuries from Wednesday night, but we have a few niggles,” he added. “We are monitoring Anthony, he is still recovering. He has done individual training not group training, we will have to wait and see.”
Definitely missing tonight are injured trio Sven Botman, Lewis Hall and Jamaal Lascelles, with the latter pair not expected to play again this season. Botman is recovering from a minor knee operation and should be fit to return next month. Matt Targett missed the game against Brentford through illness but could be included in tonight’s squad.
Leicester will be without Abdul Fatawu, with the Ghana internationla ruled out for the rest of the season having undergone ACL surgery. Australian centre-back Harry Souttar is another long-term casualty, having reptured his Achilles tendon while on loan at Sheffield United.
Harry Winks could again miss the game after being dropped by van Nistelrooy last week, reportedly because he commutes from Hertfordshire to the East Midlands every day. He was one of four fit senior players, along with Jannik Vestergaard, Kasey McAteer and Odsonne Edouard, left out of the squad which lost to Manchester City last week.
