Howe Discusses Tonalis Departure Rumors and Wissas Comeback Ahead of Newcastles Clash with Brentford

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe faced inquiries regarding Sandro Tonali’s potential future and the condition of summer acquisition Yoane Wissa during the Premier League media briefing this morning.

With Sunday’s match against Brentford on the horizon, Howe responded to media buzz surrounding star midfielder Tonali, who recently expressed that Newcastle might not be the final club in his career.

Howe remarked,

I appreciate honesty. None of us can make definitive statements about the future as football is inherently unpredictable. Sandro has been very candid, but he enjoys playing here. He loves his time in Newcastle and feels comfortable within the team. It’s our responsibility to ensure he continues to feel that way so he can maintain his positive momentum this season.

Update on Wissa

In turn, Howe gave an optimistic update regarding Wissa’s progress from a knee injury. The new player from Brentford is yet to make his appearance for Newcastle.

He stated,

Injuries are a common part of football, but it’s frustrating that we haven’t seen him yet as he wasn’t with us when he sustained the injury. It has been challenging since we had expected his transfer to be immediately beneficial. However, our focus is on ensuring he is fit and sharp when he returns to action. I’m confident he will be worth the wait.

The knee is looking good; it’s primarily about working on his overall fitness and sharpness. He is in a solid position to progress, but we need him to be fit enough to assist the team effectively.

Victorious Against Athletic Bilbao

Newcastle heads to London buoyed by their Champions League victory over Athletic Bilbao, highlighted by Dan Burn’s stunning header.

Howe reflected,

Every time I see it again, it gets better. I had the privilege of viewing it from right behind the goal. These are special moments for Dan, and he values them more than anyone else at the club due to his fan background. I’m not sure how he manages to score such headers since they aren’t a regular occurrence for him!

Addressing the development of forward Nick Woltemade, Howe acknowledged the player’s steady improvement.

He added,

We are actively working on this. Nick plays an integral part in our setup, and we are figuring out how to utilize him best. I am very pleased with his dedication and his ability to follow our strategies.

Upcoming Brentford Match

Howe admitted that Newcastle must enhance their away performance as they gear up for Brentford.

He commented,

I believe everyone feels that frustration. We understand our capabilities, and our recent performance against West Ham fell far short of that. We had to ensure we responded positively. Our latest match showed strong discipline, but to address the criticism regarding our away form, we must deliver results.

Last season’s trip was a challenging experience; Brentford is a notoriously tough venue, despite our past successes there. I view it as a significant opportunity for us to showcase that we can perform away from home, especially since our away records have not met expectations.