Your Newcastle United headlines for Friday, December 30.
Isak update
Alexander Isak is said to be "desperate" to return to the fold after spending three months on the sidelines recovering from a thigh problem. Toon boss Eddie Howe was again quizzed over the striker's potential return date on Friday and admits he is hopeful the £58m man will play a part in his side's hectic January schedule.
"I have to judge it when he's fit," he told reporters. "I can look at games and think 'this game would be good for him' but it all depends how he feels. He's very close (to full training with the squad).
READ MORE: Newcastle have transfer blueprint in place ahead of possible January exits
"I've had conversations with him but not to keep him right. For me it is to find out how he is feeling and to try and help him. He's desperate to play and prove how good he is but it's more a case of keeping him calm and making him realise he's got a long future ahead of him here and we want him to be right when he enters the pitch."
To read more, click here.
Gakpo chat
Howe says Newcastle's transfer plans remain firmly in place - despite Liverpool striking early in the transfer window and signing Dutchman Cody Gakpo.
When asked if Liverpool had thrown down the gauntlet to the rest of the top-flight, Howe said: "They’ve acted and signed a top player. "Good for them but it doesn’t impact anything from our perspective.
"We know that people will move in the market, it’ll be interesting to see how January unfolds for a lot of teams this year and see how fluid the market is. Certainly, last year we signed some very good players but we found it a difficult market to manoeuvre in. It’s not an ideal time to do too much business."
To read more, click here.
Carragher praises Howe
Pep Guardiola or Jurgen Klopp would not be able to match Howe's remarkable transformation on Tyneside. That is the view of Jamie Carragher, with the Liverpool legend naming the Magpies boss as his Premier League manager of the year.
He told the Telegraph: "Eddie Howe is the Premier League manager of 2022. The first phase of the new era at Newcastle United is a triumph of coaching more than the result of a financial revolution.
"I don’t believe any other manager could have bettered Howe’s work at St James’ Park over the past 12 months. Had the club’s Saudi Arabia owners’ somehow lured Pep Guardiola or Jurgen Klopp to the North East upon completing their takeover, the team would not be in a stronger position."
To read more, click here.
Shearer's Pele tribute
Alan Shearer has paid tribute to the all-time footballing great Pele who passed away aged 82 this afternoon after a battle with cancer.
Taking to social media, Shearer posted a photo of him and the Brazilian legend along with the caption: "RIP legend. You made the game beautiful. You were an absolute superstar."
To read more, click here.
Kuol 'buzzing' for Toon journey
Garang Kuol is "buzzing" ahead of his imminent move to Newcastle United but is determined to leave the A-League with a win. The Australia international is expected to feature for Central Coast Mariners against Melbourne Victory on New Year's Eve before departing for Tyneside.
The Magpies confirmed the deal for Kuol in September, with the 18-year-old likely to be loaned out in the January window. The young forward has enjoyed a stunning rise in recent months, and became the youngest participant in a World Cup knockout tie since Pele after appearing as a late substitute in the Socceroos' round-of-16 defeat to Argentina.
Kuol told the club's website: "I'm buzzing. I can't wait to get down there, and hit the ground running.
"I don't really think about it all too much. I'm mainly focused on what's in my stride, and looking forward to the future. There's a lot of excitement. We're looking forward to the game, we're looking for three points. Our focus remains the same, we go in with full belief, full guns blazing and try and get three points."
To read more, click here.
READ NEXT
- Newcastle United 'fine tuning' makes for an exciting January window
- Kieran Trippier says why he snubbed Eddie Howe's offer of a holiday
- Newcastle United striker Chris Wood entrusted to lead the attack against Leeds
- Eddie Howe to offer support to Jonjo Shelvey after Newcastle United injury blow
- Miguel Almiron's brilliant moment with Newcastle fans captured by Amazon cameras
