Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe returns for Saturday’s Premier League clash against Ipswich Town, after recovering from pneumonia.
The news was confirmed by club on Thursday: “Newcastle United are delighted to confirm that Eddie Howe has returned to his duties at the club’s Training Centre. Eddie had recently been hospitalised with pneumonia and has now returned to work after a period of recovery. We thank supporters for their warm wishes.”
Howe missed Newcastle’s wins over Manchester United and Crystal Palace, and last weekend’s 4-1 defeat to Aston Villa. He had been admitted to hospital on April 11 after feeling unwell for several days. Assistant coaches Jason Tindall and Graeme Jones managed the team in his absence.
Tindall and Jones guided Newcastle to a 1-0 win over Manchester United and a 4-2 victory against Crystal Palace, results that briefly lifted the club to third place.
But Newcastle stumbled last Saturday, suffering a 4-1 defeat to fellow Champions League contenders Aston Villa.
That result, combined with others, pushed the Magpies down to fifth place, which is still enough for a Champions League spot, but they are only two points clear of sixth-place Chelsea, with five games to go.
? Follow The Jugo Mobile on WhatsApp
What does this match mean for Newcastle and Ipswich Town?
This Premier League clash between both sides has massive implications at both ends of the table. The Magpies only sit fifth in the Premier League table with only five matches remaining.
A win over Ipswich would be a great response from Newcastle after the Aston Villa loss especially with tough fixtures against Chelsea and Arsenal still to come. Dropping points on Saturday would open the door for Chelsea and Aston Villa to overtake them as we enter the final days of the season.
There’s also pressure on Ipswich Town as defeat at St James’ Park on Saturday would officially relegate them back to the Championship.