00:00Tom Sker here just at Whitley Park outside the Newcastle United Media Centre where we've been speaking to Eddie Howe ahead of the Premier League match against Nottingham Forest at St James' Park on Sunday.
00:13Big game for Newcastle United as they all are but it's been a big week.
00:17We've got over the first hurdle against Union Saint-Giloise in Belgium on Wednesday, the biggest ever Champions League win, 4-0.
00:25And then it's a quick turnaround, funnily enough just got back in Newcastle late last night, first thing this morning, tired, press conference, Eddie Howe and fortunately Eddie Howe's comments and some of the questions he was asked definitely sprung everything into life and energised the room because quickly you spoke about Newcastle's injury situation,
00:49Tino Livramento again out for around two months with a knee ligament injury but the sort of bombshell if you like was delivered later in the press conference, actually in the Sunday section of the press conference which is under embargo until Sunday.
01:05But it was such big news that between us as a press pack and consulting with the club agreed that we could bring it forward, put it out early as a breaking news story because it was involving Johan Wisser and his knee ligament injury.
01:22Initially we thought he'd be back or it was communicated that he would be back for the Brighton game after the international break, so Newcastle's next Premier League game after Nottingham Forest.
01:33So we're rubbing our hands together, eager for Johan Wisser's Newcastle debut, but Eddie Howe poured cold water on that this morning by saying he's been ruled out for another two weeks, so it's an eight week absence in total after seeing a specialist on Thursday.
01:52So yeah, big blow for Newcastle, so yeah, big blow for Newcastle and then you're looking at Johan Wisser, you're looking maybe that West Ham game, the trip to West Ham or even the trip to Brentford the week after that, his former club, is a sort of return date for Johan Wisser.
02:05And at that point he hasn't played any competitive football or even non-competitive football at club level since May, which is a really long time to be out playing, so how can he hit the ground running?
02:20Liverpool are seeing that with Alexander Isak, how long he's been away from playing Premier League football, still getting up to speed.
02:27And Johan Wisser, not only that, but he's been injured as well, so when will we actually feel the impact of Johan Wisser at Newcastle as a £55 million summer signing?
02:39It remains to be seen, and then all of a sudden you're going into November, December, it's AFCON towards the back end, so really he could be away for another month then.
02:52So it's certainly been a frustrating transfer so far and it looks like it's probably going to get worse before it gets better for Newcastle in terms of the striker position.
03:03Fortunately, Nick Valtomada is delivering at the moment, but we will have to see Willis Hula or even Anthony Gordon back in the striker role in this hectic fixture schedule coming up after the international break in October.
03:18So that was a blow. A positive update as such on Jacob Ramsey though, he hasn't been seen since his ankle injury picked up against Leeds United in August.
03:28Eddie Howe confirmed last week, I think it was, that he was back on the grass and improving, still on target for a return for the Brighton game after the international break, but actually a little nugget of information.
03:42I think after delivering the blow of the Johan Wisser injury news, Eddie Howe sort of soothing things slightly by saying, well, Jacob Ramsey could be back for Nottingham Forest this weekend.
03:54So slightly more positive on that regard. And something I asked about was Lewis Hall, the Dan Byrne left back situation, because Lewis Hall, look, let's be honest, he's Newcastle's best left back.
04:04He's one of the best left backs in the Premier League when fully fit, but hasn't really been fully fit since before February, when he initially suffered that very bad foot injury that required surgery.
04:18And he then came back into the starting line-up against Bournemouth, kept his place in the side four days later against Bradford in the Carabao Cup, and then mysteriously vanished for the Arsenal game.
04:31And I wrote a story on the Shields Gazette about Hall's absence and the fact Newcastle were managing his minutes and managing his load and felt it was best resting him so he would be available.
04:42Just as that fan comes on there, I'll walk away from it. Should be available for the trip to Belgium in mid-weekend.
04:49That was indeed the case, but Lewis Hall remained on the bench. Oh, was named on the bench, I should say.
04:56And Dan Byrne keeping his place at left back. So I asked Eddie Howe, is Lewis Hall available to start and will he start against Nottingham Forest on Sunday?
05:06And Eddie Howe couldn't quite confirm that. He said Lewis Hall is available, but whether or not he'll start a game or is ready to start a game remains to be seen.
05:16Because Eddie Howe was speaking about how bad his injury was, how young Lewis Hall still is and how much Newcastle will have to manage him and be careful with him moving forward.
05:26So I followed that up by saying, well, we'll have to get used to Dan Byrne at left back. Is this the new reality for Newcastle United with Hall's minutes being managed and Tino Levermento out for the foreseeable future in terms of to the back end of November we're looking at for him.
05:43So Eddie Howe said, who knows, but then double down on Dan Byrne's quality at left back, which I think is a debate.
05:49A lot of people have probably been weighing up over the past couple of games.
05:54I think Dan Byrne, look, just is not a left back, despite what Eddie Howe might say.
05:59Two years ago, you can go back and go, yeah, Newcastle did a good job or you're going back three seasons now.
06:07Had the best defence in the Premier League with Dan Byrne at left back, but it's not that time anymore.
06:12And Dan Byrne has moved on and proven himself as a real quality centre-back in this Newcastle United side.
06:19And I think it's probably doing him a disservice to utilise him at left back.
06:24But he's ultimately that emergency left back option at the moment, just as the lawnmowers go off behind me there.
06:31I hope you can hear me okay. I'll just move out to the front.
06:34But, yeah, it's a difficult one for Eddie Howe and for Dan Byrne and for Newcastle.
06:39So, I just think playing Dan Byrne at left back almost stresses the need to have a fully fit and fully firing Lewis Hall available.
06:49And hopefully we will, if not Sunday, then in the weeks to come.
06:53After then, National Breakway and Newcastle have two weeks to prepare.
06:56And then they'll be back in action for that trip to Brighton on October 18th.
07:00But, in the meantime, you can follow all my coverage on the Shields Gazette, all the reaction to Eddie Howe's press conference.
07:08Some interesting stuff said on Elliot Anderson as well.
07:10Now we're reluctant to talk about other club's players, but Elliot Anderson particularly is the one still very fondly thought of at Newcastle United.
07:18And, I guess, by the supporters as well in his progress since leaving Newcastle.
07:24And, unfortunate circumstances has been very good to see, but also bittersweet, because why aren't Newcastle enjoying that?
07:31And, unfortunately, that's just the reality of the rules and the position Newcastle found themselves in.
07:37So, there'll be more to come on that over on the Shields Gazette, as well as all the build-up to Sunday's match at St. James' Park.
07:43Well, I'll be there, joined by my colleague, Joe Buck, to provide all the coverage from Newcastle United's Premier League match over on ShieldsGazette.com.
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