Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe says a late call will be made regarding the availability of Kieran Trippier and Sandro Tonali ahead of Tuesday’s Carabao Cup tie against AFC Wimbledon.
Both players were forced off during the second half of Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Manchester City, with Tonali suffering from cramp and Howe explaining at full time he hoped Trippier’s issue was similar.
“We’re waiting to see,” Howe said on Trippier. “He felt OK yesterday but we’re unsure if he’s going to be fit for tomorrow.”
On Tonali, who was making his first Premier League start at the weekend following a 10-month ban for betting offences, the Newcastle head coach added: “I believe it was cramp. Again, he’s a player that we’ll make a late decision on today.”
Howe confirmed on Saturday Alexander Isak would miss Tuesday’s third-round tie due to a broken toe sustained during Newcastle’s 2-1 victory at Wolverhampton Wanderers earlier this month.
The striker subsequently played at Fulham following an injection but missed the draw against City. Howe said while Isak was not yet ruled out of Saturday’s trip to Everton, he will likely be unavailable.
“With Alex, we’ve not ruled him out,” he said. “We’re sort of assessing him on a daily basis because there is a chance he could be fit for Everton if everything falls into place. Of course, then we have a decision to make. Does he play in that game or do we leave him knowing that he’ll be OK two weeks afterwards?”
Howe was hopeful Callum Wilson and Lewis Miley would be available to return from injury after October’s international break, which takes place following the weekend’s fixture against Everton.
Wilson has missed the start of the 2024-25 campaign with a back injury, and Howe said his return would bring welcome competition for Isak up front.
“I think it’s been a dynamic that we have certainly missed, and I think the players have missed themselves,” he said. “Almost last year, they were dovetailing, one was fit, one was missing out, and we never sort of got the strength of having both available. The Burnley game sticks in my head towards the back end of last season. We had them both and used them both, and they were excellent together.
“But it’s a dynamic that we need, and I think the players need. Whether that’s for rotation, so they’re both fit and fresh when they play, or whether it’s the competition, because two outstanding players fighting for one role can only benefit the performances.”
(Matt McNulty/Getty Images)
