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Ahead of the weekend there has been an official Newcastle United injury update.
Just over a week to go until the real stuff starts on Saturday 17 August.
Newcastle United facing Southampton at St James’ Park, a great chance hopefully to kick off the season in a perfect way.
Ahead of that, United have two more friendlies, with as usual, a double header at St James’ Park on the weekend before the Premier League season starts for NUFC.
Newcastle play Girona tonight at 7.30pm and then Brest on Saturday at 4pm.
Eddie Howe delivering this Newcastle United injury update – 8 August 2024:
“When I look at the squad.
“With the majority of the players fit, we look really strong.
“It is a very competitive squad.
“We have a couple of players to get back into the group.
“Callum Wilson and Matt Targett are the closest and they will make a massive difference.
“Obviously, there are then the longer-term ones behind them.
“Callum Wilson’s recovery is going very well.
“He is really positive and it is not a long-term injury.
“He had an injection in his back and his back feels good.
“But there is a timescale for his return.
“I don’t think he will be back for Southampton but hopefully for the early games in September.”
Newcastle United have two Premier League matches in August, then Spurs at home on 1 September, before a two week international gap.
That Tottenham match sees Sandro Tonali available again, so it would be great to have both Callum Wilson and Matt Targett back at that point too. I think Targett is very underrated by many people and he has been so unlucky with injuries, he was excellent in that second-half of the 2021/22 season and would add valuable strength to that left-back position in the squad.
The way I see it, none of that trio are likely to be considered as starters for that Tottenham match. I reckon Tonali will be eased in and ideally will be used off that bench with Newcastle having gone a few goals up against Spurs. With Wilson and Targett as well, bench at best.
Then that handy international fortnight and hopefully Eddie Howe facing Wolves away on Sunday 15 September with a far stronger squad.
The expected return of Wilson and Targett in September, would then leave Sven Botman, Jamaal Lascelles and Lewis Miley as (hopefully!) the last remaining long-term injured, still working back to their own returns.
Eddie Howe and ‘high expectations’:
“We have to have high expectations of ourselves, we have to push ourselves internally.
“You can have your targets but nothing is going to be given to you.
“You have to earn the right to get to that point.
“We have a very difficult Premier League season ahead because the competition is so high.
“We have to improve from last year.
“We have been working hard in pre-season to improve certain aspects of our play.
“Hopefully that shows by the time we kick off [our Premier League season] and we can build consistency and confidence in our game early.”
Newcastle United schedule to end of September 2024:
Saturday 20 July 2024 – Newcastle 3 SpVgg Unterhaching 1
Saturday 27 July 2024 – Hull 0 Newcastle 2
Wednesday 31 July 2024 – Urawa Red Diamonds 1 Newcastle 4
Saturday 3 August 2024 – Yokohama F Marinos 2 Newcastle 0
Friday 9 August 2024 – Newcastle United v Girona FC friendly 7.30pm kick-off (SJP Sela weekend)
Saturday 10 August 2024 – Newcastle United v Stade Brestois 4pm kick-off (SJP Sela weekend)
Wednesday 14 August 2024 – The Carabao Cup second round draw will be made around 10pm.
Saturday 17 August 2024 – Newcastle v Southampton (3pm)
Sunday 25 August 2024 – Bournemouth v Newcastle (2pm) Sky Sports
Week commencing Monday 26 August 2024 – Carabao Cup round two matches will be played
Friday 30 August 2024 – Summer transfer window closes at 11pm.
Sunday 1 September 2024 – Newcastle v Tottenham (1.30pm) Sky Sports
(The first international break of the season)
Sunday 15 September 2024 – Wolves v Newcastle (4.30 pm) Sky Sports
Weeks commencing Monday 16 September AND Monday 23 September – Carabao Cup round three (This round split over two midweeks)
Saturday 21 September 2024 – Fulham v Newcastle (3 pm)
Weeks commencing Monday 16 September AND Monday 23 September – Carabao Cup round three (This round split over two midweeks)
Saturday 28 September 2024 – Newcastle v Man City (12.30 pm) TNT Sports
Saturday 5 October – Everton v Newcastle (5pm) Sky Sports
Saturday 19 October – Newcastle v Brighton (3pm)
Sunday 27 October – Chelsea v Newcastle (2pm) Sky Sports

 
