Eddie Howe issues injury update on Newcastle trio ahead of Man Utd clash | OneFootball

Newcastle United are gearing up for a Premier League Boxing Day showdown against Manchester United at Old Trafford, and Eddie Howe has delivered positive updates on key players.

The Magpies will be without the injured trio of Tino Livramento, Sven Botman, and Nick Pope, but Howe has confirmed that all three are making significant strides in their recovery.

Newcastle will be looking to extend their fantastic recent record against United. They’ve lost just one of their last seven meetings with United, claiming four wins and two draws.

Howe’s side will also visit the Theatre of Dreams, looking to make it three wins in a row against United, having won the last two consecutive meetings.

However, Newcastle will have to do so without three key players.

Livramento was forced to sit out Saturday’s entertaining 2-2 draw with Chelsea after picking up a knee injury during last week’s EFL Cup victory over Fulham.

There were fears that the English defender had suffered a serious injury, but Howe has played down those concerns, hoping the issue is not as bad as first feared.

“It’s a difficult one because there’s quite a bit of information on Tino [Livramento],” Howe said during his pre-match press conference.

“We’re waiting to get full clarification, but hopefully, it’s not serious at all, and he can resume training quite quickly. Before confirming that, we want to be sure it’s right.

“We haven’t got clarity on that, but hopefully it’s good news.”

Howe also issued positive news on Botman and Pope ahead of this weekend’s trip to Manchester.

The £34.5 million defender hasn’t featured for Newcastle since the 2-1 victory over Manchester City late last month, while Pope has been out since the Champions League defeat to Olympique Marseille.

Both players have been working well towards full fitness, although they still have plenty of work to do before rejoining the fold.

“Sven will be in the category of the group of players that are doing well,” Howe said. “We hope to get him back pretty soon. When that day is, I’m not 100% sure.

“He hasn’t trained with the group yet, but potentially good news. We don’t think he’s too far away.

On Pope, he said: “There’s a chance [he could be in the matchday squad to face United]. He hasn’t trained yet, but we hope he might train today, so let’s see how he does.”