Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe has been speaking to the media before Saturday’s FA Cup fourth round game against Aston Villa at Villa Park (17:45 GMT).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
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Howe said Newcastle are waiting to know the “full extent” of Bruno Guimaraes’ hamstring injury while Lewis Miley is “having scans every few days” on a dead leg after a “bad knock to his thigh” and the club are “waiting day-by-day” on his fitness.
Tino Livramento is “on track” for a return in March and is “back on grass, running and building his fitness back up”.
Joelinton is “doing really well” and his return “can’t be too far beyond this game” but he is unlikely to be fit for the visit to Villa.
On the FA Cup: “It has helped the feeling and mood at the training ground. It is amazing that it can change the perspective of everyone. I get asked a lot about the FA Cup. Our attitude is to win. It’s a competition we want to win and go as far as we can.”
Howe says Villa away is a “tough draw”: “We would love to have a cup run, our attitude won’t change, we want to try and win the next game and that is Aston Villa. It is a tough draw, a competition we want to do well in and we want to go as far as we can.”
Reflecting on the midweek win at Tottenham, he said: “It definitely helped the feeling and the mood around the training ground, that is what winning does. It was a big win for us but now we have to try and back that up. We are searching for that consistency.”
He backed Kieran Trippier who has recently been struggling for form: “It has been a difficult period for him with the ground he is expected to cover and the games we are playing. Kieran’s appetite and hunger for success is there, he looked good athletically, his leadership with the back four was outstanding. I am very pleased with him. He is such an important player for us. There is big expectation on him to deliver.”
On Sven Botman extending his contract until 2030: “For any player, if you have your future settled and your contract length is clear it helps. When you have certainty over your future it helps with performances.”
Follow all of Friday’s Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day’s football news
Watch live coverage of Aston Villa v Newcastle on BBC One and BBC iPlayer
Listen to full live commentary on BBC Sounds and BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra from 17:45 on Saturday (second half also on BBC Radio 5 Live)
