Newcastle United have been handed a potential boost ahead of their Carabao Cup clash with Bournemouth after Cherries boss Gary O'Neil admitted a virus had spread through his squad in recent days. Bournemouth arrive on Tyneside on Tuesday with a place in the quarter-final at stake for both clubs.
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has vowed to name a strong XI as he continues to take the competition seriously. However, O'Neil is sweating over the fitness of some key men.
“We’ll have to make last-minute calls on quite a few players,” he told reporters on Monday. “Some of them have missed long spells, some of them up to ten days.
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"We had eight to ten players missing at some point last week and it’s run a little bit into this week. We just need to see who has shaken off the virus in time, but I’m confident that we can still name a really strong team for Newcastle.”
Newcastle hosted Spanish side Real Vallecano on Saturday with a host of key stars missing from the St James' Park friendly. Bruno Guimaraes, Callum Wilson and Fabian Schar were absent after their World Cup exploits, while Dan Burn, Joelinton and Miguel Almiron also missed out.
Howe admits he is managing schedules on a case by case basis as he looks to name a strong XI for the return of competitive football this week. “Everyone’s coming back at different times and stages with different things behind them," he said on Monday.
"We’re having to manage that situation, and trying to get the players fit as quickly as possible without putting them at risk of injury. Slightly unusual time for us with players coming back at different stages and (with) different needs. Today reflected that.
"Hopefully the players that played got what they needed, and they’re all a step closer to being fit and ready to play.”
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