Isak doubtful to face Premier League champions, says Howe | OneFootball

The Magpies welcome the visit of Pep Guardiola's side, unbeaten in the division since December 2023, to Tyneside as they bid to bounce back from last weekend's 3-1 defeat at Fulham.

Despite starting against the Cottagers, Howe will be hopeful Isak - who has scored in his last two home encounters against Man City - will overcome a toe injury in order to face the Premier League champions, who were the last side to beat Newcastle on home soil in January.

Here are some of the boss' main talking points from Friday morning's pre-match media briefing at the Newcastle United Media Centre.

On team news:

“We don’t have anyone coming back that has been out. Matt (Targett) has had a flare-up of eczema so he's been nursing that over the last couple of weeks.

"We are hoping to get him back training today but he won’t be involved in the game (against Man City). In terms of fresh injuries, Alex (Isak) is still nursing his toe injury and will be a doubt for tomorrow. He hasn’t trained yet so we will have to make a decision on him.”

On the postponement of the Carabao Cup third round tie against AFC Wimbledon, with the cup clash now being staged at St. James' Park on Tuesday, 1 October:

“It gave us the opportunity to train which was probably a good thing for us, two really good days we got to then work with the team to try and solve some of the issues from the Fulham game.

"I look at that as a positive. I am pleased with the work we have done and we are looking for a better performance."

On looking for a reaction from last weekend's defeat at Fulham:

“It was one of those games where we analysed it a lot and we took away a lot from it to try and implement into our game. We didn’t like ourselves (and there was) some honest conversations this week so hopefully we'll respond.

"We always need to deliver. There's always that pressure but I do think we have a responsibility to show our true selves, to turn up and give our best.

"Last week was not a great reflection on our style or way of playing. We need to learn from it and come back stronger. We need to step up this weekend.”

On the challenge of facing the Premier League champions, targeting a fifth consecutive English top-flight title:

“The next fixture for us is hugely important for us after that game, everyone will be highly motivated, we need to make sure we make it as difficult as we can for our opponents, and to do that, we will need to be at our very best.

“We have to carry a threat; we have to be an attacking force in the game. We must be that attacking force, not forgetting what we are good at. Our challenge is to be competitive and try and impose ourselves on the game.”

On previous meetings with Man City, who are unbeaten in their last ten league meetings against the Magpies:

“We have had some really good games against them at home, some nearly moments for us, we felt we did a lot right but did not get the result last season. I think it shows that against that type of opposition, the quality that Manchester City possess, you have to be on it for every minute.”