Sport

Newcastle United drop a massive team news hint ahead of the Man City clash with a cheeky training photos

Published

3 hours ago

February 12, 2025

KELVIN

Newcastle United return to action on Saturday, when they face Premier League champions Manchester City. Both teams are vying for a top-four spot, and this has all the makings of a memorable game.

The Magpies are coming off a tough FA Cup match against Birmingham City on Saturday night. United battled hard to win 3-2 and advance to the FA Cup’s fifth round.

It was a game that saw tackles flying in, players crashing into advertising hoardings and no shortage of yellow cards. It left Newcastle manager Eddie Howe hoping that his battered squad didn’t pick up more injuries.

Dan Burn, however, was forced to leave the game in the second half due to a groin injury. With Sven Botman already out due to a knee injury and Lloyd Kelly leaving for Juventus, Newcastle’s defensive resources appear to be depleted. That wasn’t the only setback at the weekend, as Howe confirmed that Anthony Gordon had missed the game owing to an injury sustained in the Carabao Cup victory over Arsenal the previous week.

Howe said: “We hope Anthony will be back in contention next weekend. We treat the cups the same (as the Premier League), everyone who is fit we will take. Anthony was not fit today so he was not here today because he had a problem.”

Howe’s side at least have had no midweek game and can try and recuperate from the fatigue that has set in. They have been back on the training ground ahead of the trip to the Etihad this weekend.

And one of the training photographs shared on social media by the team this afternoon showed Gordon smiling. There was also a smiley face emoji.