Howe ‘not 100%' after pneumonia but ready to lead Newcastle for Premier League finale
Brentford manager Thomas Frank greets Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe ahead of the English Premier League soccer match between Brentford and Newcastle United at St James’ Park in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP)
NEWCASTLE, England (AP) — Eddie Howe acknowledged he was “not 100%” after returning to work as Newcastle manager for a crucial end to the Premier League season.
The 47-year-old Howe was hospitalized after being diagnosed with pneumonia, and missed his team’s last three games — wins over Manchester United and Crystal Palace and a loss to Aston Villa.
He was back working on Wednesday and will be in the dugout at St. James’ Park for the match against Ipswich on Saturday.
“I’m not 100% in my body,” Howe said on Friday, “but I’d like to think I’m 100% in my mind, which is the most important thing.”
Howe said he had “zero” contact with his coaching staff while in hospital, with assistant Jason Tindall taking charge of the team.
“I made a conscious decision, when I didn’t feel well enough to focus on the football, to give Jason and all the coaches the full responsibility,” Howe said. “For me, you’re either all in or all out. So I said to Jason right at the start, ‘It’s over to you.’ And didn’t he do well.”
After the 4-1 loss to Villa on Saturday and subsequent wins for Nottingham Forest and Manchester City, Saudi-controlled Newcastle has dropped to fifth place in the Premier League. The top five will qualify for the Champions League.
Four points separate City in third and Villa in seventh, with Newcastle having five games to play.
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