Howe issues update on 4 Newcastle players ahead of Burnley clash

Newcastle will play their final match of an up-and-down 2025 this coming week, travelling to second-bottom Burnley on Tuesday night.

Eddie Howe's pre-match press conference was held on Friday night, where the boss offered a few early assessments on who may or may not be fit to take on Scott Parker's Clarets in what feels like a must-win match.

Asked if Sven Botman and Kieran Trippier could return for the game at Turf Moor, Howe didn't sound confident:

“I don’t think so. We are not one hundred per cent sure, as we have a group of players getting closer.

“Not as fit [yet] as I would like them. I want them fit and available as quick as possible.

“Our backline has been really stretched, the guys that have played have done really well, especially Lewis Miley playing out of position [at right-back].

“We would welcome some of those players back. Whether it is for Burnley, I don’t know.”

Moving to Nick Pope, it sounds like the goalkeeper is more likely to be involved, as Howe reveals that illness stopped him from featuring at Old Trafford.

It sounds like performances in training will determine whether or not he's recalled to the starting 11 against his former club, with Howe set to make a late call:

“Nick had really limited training time for that [Manchester United] game. He declared himself fit and then was subsequently ill, right before kick-off.

“He wasn’t feeling great, so it was probably fortunate he wasn’t playing at Man United.

“But we will see [for the Burnley match]. I will take a view from the training I see. Although that training has been limited so far.

"I need to see Nick is back to his very best. Aaron [Ramsdale] has played well in his absence, so I will make a call [for Burnley].”

Last but not least, Howe admitted the club are still having to manage Yoane Wissa, who is not in the right physical condition to start every three or four days.

However, as we saw in his one start against Fulham, he is fit enough to make an impact and may be recalled to the starting 11 at Turf Moor should Howe look to freshen up a side that looked toothless at Old Trafford on Friday:

“We have to look after Yoane. It is still relatively early in his return to full fitness.

“He did really well in his one start [so far] against Fulham, I was really pleased with him that day.

“The problem for us is playing every three or four days. I don’t think he is in [the right] condition to start regularly at the moment.

“Hopefully, we can manage him to [get to] that point.”

Elsewhere, we would assume that Burnley will come too soon for Tino Livramento, Emil Krafth, Will Osula and Jamaal Lascelles.