Eddie Howe’s team news update: ‘Healthy squad’ for Chelsea trip as returns outweigh absentees

Newcastle United will travel to Stamford Bridge on Saturday with what head coach Eddie Howe describes as “a healthy squad”, boosted by the recent returns of Tino Livramento, Joelinton, William Osula and Sven Botman after lengthy lay-offs.

Although Bruno Guimarães and teenage midfielder Lewis Miley remain unavailable, the upturn in numbers has lifted the mood at the club’s Benton base. “Every player that we get back is such a big lift to the group’s strength and the quality,” Howe said. “Hopefully there’s a few more on the horizon that will make a big difference to us.”

The Magpies boss confirmed that Guimarães, currently on personal leave in Brazil, is expected back on Monday and could rejoin full training shortly after the international break. “He’s been working incredibly hard on his rehab with the Brazilian national team physios and doctors,” Howe added. “I’d love to think by the time the international break has ended, he’d be back fit and available.”

Miley’s hamstring issue is proving more stubborn. The 17-year-old is running again but has not yet returned to collective sessions. “We just have to be careful with this injury. We don’t want it to turn into something a lot more serious,” Howe stressed.

Anthony Gordon, omitted from the starting XI for Wednesday’s 4–1 loss at Barcelona, has recovered from the illness that kept him out of the pre-match session. Howe clarified that the winger was “absolutely willing to play” in Catalonia and praised his mentality. “He’s probably in the best moment that he’s been this season,” the coach said, highlighting Gordon’s adaptation to a deeper role.

Joelinton’s re-emergence has been equally welcome. The Brazilian’s physicality and mobility have transformed Newcastle’s midfield in recent outings. “When Joe plays like he has done the last few games, I think we’re a different team because of him,” Howe remarked, while acknowledging the challenge of keeping the 27-year-old fit for the run-in.

Lewis Hall, the former Chelsea full-back, was singled out for special praise after an assured display against Barcelona. Howe believes the 20-year-old is “playing his best football currently” and hailed last summer’s recruitment as “really smart piece of business” aimed at long-term development rather than instant impact.

Attention now turns to the Premier League meeting with Chelsea, a fixture Howe expects to be “one of the toughest away games we’ll have”. He warned against any emotional hangover from Europe: “There’ll be a lot of focus on the Barcelona game, and rightly so. But this game’s a very tough one if we’re not focused 100 per cent on Chelsea.”

With European qualification still mathematically possible and domestic points paramount, Newcastle’s improving casualty list could not be timelier. “We can’t go there under-prepared,” Howe concluded. “It’s a big job today to get the players ready.”