- Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson are both doubts for trip to Manchester United
- Eddie Howe warns it could cost too much to buy another striker this summer
- Manchester United should play at Wembley for two years, tear down Old Trafford and build a Tottenham-esque stadium – Listen to It’s All Kicking Off! podcast
Newcastle are sweating on the fitness of Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson ahead of their European showdown at Manchester United – but Eddie Howe has warned it could cost too much to buy another striker this summer.
The head coach has been able to start with both of his frontmen on just one occasion this season because of injury. That was at Burnley 10 days ago, but the pair have since been struck down by illness.
Wilson’s contract expires in 2025 and there is an expectation he will leave this summer, with a younger forward brought in as replacement.
Howe does not see it that way and has made the argument to the hierarchy that it will be difficult to replace a player of Wilson’s ability, although he admits availability has formed part of discussions.
In the short-term, he is hoping one of his strikers recovers in time to face Man United at Old Trafford on Wednesday, especially given the hosts are likely to start with Casemiro and Jonny Evans at centre-back.
‘We haven’t seen Callum yet, so we’ll see if he’s available to train today (Tuesday),’ said Howe, who was without Wilson for Saturday’s 1-1 home draw with Brighton. ‘If not, then I’ sure he’ll be fit for Brentford (on Sunday).
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‘Alexander is (also) illness. I don’t think it’s a serious illness. He didn’t train yesterday (Monday), so again we’ll see if he trains today. Fingers crossed he will.
‘But yes, he wasn’t feeling 100 per cent – I think you could see that (against Brighton). He’s been so good in recent weeks, athletically as well as technically, and all the goals that he’s scored. But we knew on Friday that he was slightly under the weather.’
Of Wilson’s future and the frustration over the availability of both frontmen, Howe added: ‘When either one of our two strikers has been missing it has impacted us, there is no doubt about that. They are two high-level players.
‘You saw when they played in tandem at Burnley how good they were together, how promising that partnership could be. We just haven’t had the ability to link them together too many times.
‘Of course (availability) forms part of your planning (regarding Wilson’s future), it would be foolish for me to say otherwise. Anthony Gordon can play as a striker, but you lose him from his winger position.
‘We need a squad that can deal with all types of absentees and problems, which you’re going to get during a season. That is what we’ll try to build.
‘But all I’ll say on that, and I’ll urge the word “caution”, is that to sign strikers of the ability to score goals in the Premier League would cost you an awful lot of money.
‘I have to get the balance right between doing that and exposing ourselves in other areas, where the money might need to go.’