Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe has given a fitness update ahead of Thursday night’s clash with Everton. A crucial home match for the Blues, Howe has admitted he still has injury doubts over two of his key players.
The match at Goodison will give Everton the chance to put some distance between themselves and the bottom three, with the club currently out of the relegation zone due to goal difference. Having fallen to a 1-0 defeat to Wolves on Sunday , Frank Lampard’s side have an almost immediate opportunity to make amends with a win over Newcastle.
Though the Magpies have followed a slightly different trajectory since the two clubs last met in February . Prior to last weekend’s defeat to Chelsea, Newcastle had won six and drawn one across their last seven games and have risen to 14th in the table after being early candidates for relegation.
However, despite their impressive recent form, Eddie Howe may be dealt a double injury blow for his side’s trip to Goodison. Speaking to the media on Wednesday, the ex-Bournemouth boss admitted that midfield pair Jonjo Shelvey and Joelinton were still doubts to face Everton.
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“Jonjo Shelvey we are waiting to see, he hasn't trained yet he's a slightly bigger concern. Joelinton is going to be touch and go,” Howe said in his pre-match press conference.
"We have a decision to make on whether we look after him with the break we have afterwards or whether we push him back out there. We will have to make our mind up."
Shelvey had captained Newcastle in their last four games, prior to missing their defeat to Chelsea, after replacing the injured Kieran Trippier as skipper. And though Joelinton previously came under intense scrutiny when playing as a forward, his reinvention as a midfielder under Howe has coincided with the club’s upturn in fortunes.
Aside from fitness doubts over Shelvey and Joelinton, Howe is expecting to have close to a full squad available against Everton after Joe Willock’s absence through illness and Federico Fernandez’s recovery from a long-term injury. The Argentine defender last played in December after being sidelined with a thigh problem.
"Willock, yes he should be OK, he had an illness but returned to training yesterday,” Howe added. “Apart from that (Shelvey and Joelinton) we are Ok. Fede Fernandez will hopefully train today after he has had quite a lay off."
