Eddie Howe says his Newcastle United XI are strong enough to face two punishing games in five days
Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe attends a press conference after the draw with Bayer Leverkusen(Image: Rene Nijhuis/MB Media/Getty Images)
Eddie Howe has admitted he does not fear playing exactly the same team at Sunderland as he did in the 2-2 draw with Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League.
But in terms of unused squad members from Germany, Howe only has Anthony Elanga, Fabian Schar and Joe Willock as possible stars to come in and play after a rest.
When asked if he is prepared to name the same XI that started in Leverkusen’s BayArena, Howe said: “I think the same team can go again.
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“But I have to make that decision on how the individuals feel. And, of course, we have a very good squad waiting for their opportunities. So, changes could also be a thing that helps us.”
Newcastle players have a day of rest on Friday before the real preparations begin on Saturday on the eve of the game. Howe kept the draw against the Bundesliga side in context last night.
But he did not stray from the fact that his team keep conceding costly goals at key stages in matches – something that they can’t afford against a Sunderland side who score late goals.
Howe said: “I don’t know (if it is a mentality issue). Goals happen in games and we haven’t defended well enough today. It was too easy for them to go through the middle of our defence (for the equaliser).
“I wasn’t happy at half-time, not so much with the performance but there was a real lack of belief that we could score. You have to make things happen and really believe internally. Off the ball, we were getting close to them but not in that final yard.
“It leaves us in a good position: it leaves it in our hands but we have two tough games to come. All we can do is focus back onto the Premier League where we are in a decent vein of form.”
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