Newcastle manager Eddie Howe is recovering after being diagnosed with pneumonia, the club has announced. The 47-year-old was taken to hospital on Friday having felt unwell for a few days and underwent testing over the weekend.
He was absent for the Magpies’ 4-1 thrashing of Manchester United on Sunday and will be out of action for the foreseeable future. Assistant manager Jason Tindall – who stepped in for the Premier League encounter – said Howe had watched the game from his hospital bed, with captain Bruno Guimaeres saying the side had played for him.
Newcastle announced that the Englishman had pneumonia in a statement on Monday, adding, “The club continues to extend its best wishes and support to Eddie and his family as he continues his recovery.”
Howe was quoted in the statement as saying: “A huge thank you to everyone connected with Newcastle United and the wider football community for your messages and warm wishes. They have meant a lot to me and my family.
“I also want to pay tribute to our incredible NHS and the hospital staff who have treated me. I’m immensely grateful for the specialist care I’m receiving and, after a period of recovery, I look forward to being back as soon as possible.”
Howe has managed Newcastle since November 2021 and guided them to a memorable victory over Liverpool in the Carabao Cup at Wembley last month to end their 70-year domestic trophy drought. The Magpies currently sit fourth in the top flight as they push for a Champions League spot.
Tindall and assistant coach Graeme Jones will continue to take charge for Newcastle’s fixtures against Crystal Palace and Aston Villa on Wednesday and Saturday this week, the club confirmed. It added that further updates on Howe’s condition and return would be communicated “in due course”.
Tindall took Newcastle’s pre-match press conference ahead of Wednesday’s clash with Palace and explained that Howe will return to the dugout when ‘he feels his is ready to come back.
“We know that he is in the best possible hands and he will be back as soon as he feels he is ready to come back 100% to lead the team,” said the assistant manager.
“Of course, your health is the most important thing and that is why it’s so important that when Eddie decides to come back, he comes back and is able to lead the team like he does day in day out, fully recovered.
“Maybe in the next couple of days, if he is feeling better, maybe we will have a little more dialogue. It’s always difficult especially if it’s someone who you have worked so closely for such a long time. He’s never missed more than a day or two in the whole time we have been working together.
“It’s a new situation for me as well as the players and the staff here but what gives you comfort is that he is in the best possible hands. He is not a silly guy, so Eddie will make sure he will be back 100%.”
Newcastle’s upcoming fixture list and the games Eddie Howe will miss:
- Newcastle vs Crystal Palace (Wednesday 16 April) – Confirmed absence
- Aston Villa vs Newcastle (Saturday 19 April) – Confirmed absence
- Newcastle vs Ipswich (Saturday 26 April)
- Brighton vs Newcastle (Sunday 4 May)
- Newcastle vs Chelsea (Saturday 10 May)
- Arsenal vs Newcastle (Sunday 18 May)
- Newcastle vs Everton (Sunday 25 May)