Howe injury concerns

It remains a lengthy injury list for Eddie Howe, though the manager was coy on Alexander Isak’s imminent return to the first team fold.

The striker has struggled with an injury picked up in the early stages of the defeat to Dortmund back at the end of October.

But he reckoned there was some in the treatment room who’d be a bit longer out.

Speaking yesterday, Howe said: “I don’t want to give too much away. I think the majority of players we’ve spoken about previously are longer-term injuries.

“We’re looking at probably January for a few of them. There’s a couple of others who sooner, we hope, they can be back involved and help us through December.”

Football’s here!

Ahhhh an afternoon of football on a Saturday – have we missed you!

And we’re back with a treat this afternoon as rejuvenated Chelsea make the trip north to take on Eddie Howe’s Newcastle.

The Toon fans will be hoping the break helped one or two of their battered and bruised stars return to some sort of fitness ahead of a pivotal stage of the season.

While Chelsea fans were gutted a two-week break came when it did after scoring four goals at Spurs – then in that crazy draw with Man City before the pause.

Newcastle sit six points off Spurs who occupy fourth at present, with Chelsea a further four points behind them.

It’s set to be a cracker.