Newcastle United heading coach Eddie Howe spoke to the media ahead of Saturday's return the Premier League action against Wolves. Dominic Scurr discusses the press conference and the injury blows to Yoane Wissa and Jacob Ramsey.
00:00The Shields Gazette, Dominic Scurr here outside the Newcastle United Media Centre where we've been speaking to Eddie Howe ahead of Newcastle United's return to Premier League action after the international break against Wolves at St James' Park on Saturday.
00:13Big game, Newcastle looking for the first win of the new season, four games in, Wolves yet to pick up a point in the Premier League.
00:21So a lot riding on this game early into the season, Newcastle desperately looking to just get the ball rolling, get that first win and it's nice to be back in action.
00:31The dust has settled on a tumultuous summer so there's plenty of questions for Eddie Howe and ultimately the press conference.
00:38Doubt a couple of bombshells really, obviously Eddie Howe was asked about Alexander Isak, his move to Liverpool but ultimately that's moved on.
00:47Alexander Isak is a Liverpool player, Eddie Howe spoke about how maybe the relationship broke down after Isak went on strike but sort of left it there really.
00:56Obviously disappointed with the way the transfer came about but yeah, moving on.
01:02Since we last spoke to Eddie Howe, Newcastle have signed a player in Johan Wisser from Brentford, £55m on deadline day, sort of tied in with Alexander Isak departure to Liverpool.
01:13So yeah, spoke about Johan Wisser who had a good international break on paper, he scored two goals for DR Congo, one against South Sudan, got an assist in that game as well.
01:23Scored in a 3-2 defeat against Senegal as well but crucially went off with a knee issue when he's returned to Newcastle, he's been assessed.
01:32And Eddie Howe has ruled him out from Saturday's game so his debut for Newcastle United will be delayed.
01:41And that is a massive disappointment, the question marks over who would start up front, would it be Nick Valtomato, would it be Johan Wisser, Willisula also an option as well.
01:50Anthony Gordon unavailable, still suspended for another two Premier League games.
01:54But Eddie Howe, all the excitement surrounding Johan Wisser, it's sort of being subdued now because he's been ruled out of the Wolves game.
02:03When asked about the nature of his injury, Eddie Howe couldn't give too much away or didn't give too much away, he said it's a knee issue, he's going to see a specialist.
02:11And look, based on past sort of quotes from Eddie Howe, knee issue and specialist don't exactly add up to he's going to be back anytime soon.
02:23And he couldn't give a clear return date.
02:25So that is a concern.
02:27Hopefully Johan Wisser is back sooner rather than later and any specialist assessment he gets is positive.
02:33Because, again, he went off against Senegal in the international break for the Arc Congo.
02:39He walked off fine, but let's wait and see what happens with him.
02:43He couldn't say, Eddie Howe, whether Johan Wisser would be available for Barcelona.
02:47And it's a busy period coming up for Newcastle, seven games before the next international break.
02:51And speaking of the international break, that was another injury issue.
02:56Jacob Ramsey went off in the 0-0 draw against Leeds with an ankle issue.
03:02Again, didn't look too serious.
03:04Jacob Ramsey's done some media duties during the international break.
03:07He's even been spotted training with the first team during the international break.
03:11But Eddie Howe said no.
03:13Injury issue, ankle injury.
03:15It's swelled up and he doesn't expect to see him back until after the next international break, which is in over a month's time.
03:23So Jacob Ramsey ruled out for over a month.
03:26He'll miss the next seven games.
03:27That's according to Eddie Howe, at least.
03:28So two summer signings.
03:30£94 million worth of summer signings set to be out for Newcastle United.
03:36Certainly this weekend and no clear return date.
03:38So that is a massive blow for Newcastle United.
03:41And more positive news on the injury front is Joe Linton, who missed the Leeds game with a groin issue,
03:47missed going away with Brazil on international duty.
03:50He's returned to training and should be available.
03:54Eddie Howe said it's a big boost to have him back in contention.
03:58So a positive to come from what was overall a quite negative injury update from Eddie Howe.
04:05And then also there's question marks over a player like Bruno Guimaraes as well.
04:08Not over any real injury, but he played in Bolivia at high altitude, South America,
04:15a long way away on the early hours of Wednesday morning.
04:18So he's only just come back, days training and then thrown in against Wolves.
04:24Or will he be rested?
04:26One thing I'd probably be clear on about Bruno is he's Newcastle's captain.
04:32He has started every Premier League game for the club last season.
04:37And you have to go back till he was suspended midway through the season before that.
04:43Till go to the last time he didn't start a game for Newcastle in the Premier League.
04:48So I think realistically you'd expect him to stop.
04:51But Eddie Howe said with the fixtures coming up, it's something you have to consider.
04:55When Barcelona on Thursday night, then down at Bournemouth, Bradford in the Carabao Cup,
05:02Arsenal, then you're away in the Champions League in Belgium, Nottingham Forest after that.
05:08So it's a busy, busy schedule for Newcastle United and the squad is going to be important,
05:12which is why it's such a blow to lose a player like Jacob Ramsey,
05:16who looked like he was just becoming that quite useful squad player.
05:20came on against Liverpool, looked sharp, started against Leeds, looked sharp again,
05:24looked really tidy, but then going off injured comes into a blow.
05:28So Newcastle will have updates heading into the Wolves game over on the ShieldsGazette.com.
05:36You can follow myself at DomSker on X as well.
05:40And hopefully Newcastle United will be picking up their first three points of the new season.
05:46We might see a debut for Nick Voldemort.
05:48Eddie Howe was asked about him, he said he's like the look of him in training,
05:52but wouldn't go as far as saying he's guaranteed to start at St. James' Park on Saturday.
05:59Willis Sula, of course, still an option there.
06:00He's been away with Denmark, but didn't get on the pitch.
06:04Of course, he started the previous Premier League game for Newcastle up front,
06:08which is, to date, his only Premier League start for the club.
06:12So let's wait and see.
06:13I'll be back at St. James' Park with my colleague, Joe Buck,
06:17covering the game for the ShieldsGazette.
06:18In the meantime, you can check out all the Newcastle United coverage
06:21and build up to that game against Wolves at St. James' Park
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