Howe "confident" on Joelinton's availability for Palace visit

United host the Eagles, who sit one point below the Magpies in ninth place, targeting a fifth competitive victory in a row at St. James' Park as well as aiming to extend their positive unbeaten run to eight matches.

Howe will be hopeful the Brazilian midfielder, who was substituted after four minutes of his introduction from the bench due to a hamstring injury sustained in a 2-0 win against Burnley last month, will return to competitive action but will be welcomed by the return of Anthony Gordon, with the Liverpool-born youngster serving a one-match suspension in a 2-2 draw away at West Ham United after picking up a fifth yellow card of the season against Burnley.

Newcastle face a Palace side who have been effectively in defence, recording four Premier League clean sheets and conceding a mere seven goals so far this term, and were one of two sides to prevent United from scoring in both English top-flight fixtures during the 2022/23 campaign.

Here are some of the boss’ main talking points during the pre-match media briefing at the Magpies’ Benton-based training ground on Friday morning:

On Sandro Tonali, subject to investiagation by the Italian Prosecutor’s Office and Italian Football Federation (FIGC) in relation to illegal betting activity, and the Italian midifielder's availability ahead of tomorrow’s Premier League clash:

“He’s very much with us. He trained with us twice this week and he’s very much available for selection. Like I do with all the players, analysing their training performances and how they look and feel. Sandro’s trained well with us.

“He’s had a very difficult couple of weeks. He’s been dealing with a lot and, from what I can see, he’s handling himself really well and he’s dealing with his emotions incredibly strongly. Underneath that, I’m sure there’s a lot going on so I’ll have to make a call.

“For me (the support for Sandro), it’s absolutely crucial. The most important part of this whole incident is Sandro and his welfare. It’s very easy for people to forget how young he is and the changes he’s had in his life coming from Italy to England. That’s hard enough to deal with and now he has this situation.

“We feel straight away, as a football club, it was throw our arms around him and protect him and try to give him the love and support he needs to find solutions to the problems that he’s had. That’s what we are endeavouring to do with a lot of conversations and a lot of communication with him and his family because it’s not just Sandro, it’s the people around him that’s so important to him.

“It’s been a big effort from us and I have to say he’s handled himself superbly well with respect and dignity.”

On injury issues, including the likes of Joelinton, Alexander Isak, Sven Botman and Joe Willock:

“He’s (Joelinton) trained well and looked good. He’s done a lot of work so I’m confident that he’s going to be okay and hopefully return to the form that we know he can produce. He’s a huge player for us.

“Alex hasn’t trained with us yet. We’re going to leave it late to see if he is fit and available. Sven is improving and the the two weeks have been good for him.

“I’m the same as Joe (Willock) - I want him back but, of course, we have to do it sensibly. He's trained this week for the first time, back with the group. (It’s) probably a bit early for him to be involved in the match day squad but he’s getting closer. He’s a huge player for us."

On Crystal Palace, who carried out Premier League stalemates against the Magpies in both fixtures last season:

“Roy’s done an incredible job going back there in a difficult moment for the team. He bought stability to the club as he does everywhere he manages. He brings organisation and a real structure to their play. A very difficult team to play against and to score against this year.

“Defensively, they’ve been very good. They don’t have (Wilfried) Zaha now but still have very dangerous players and players that can hurt you on transitions.

“They’ve got some real threats so we can’t underestimate the challenge and can't get blind-sided by other distractions for us. This game will be hard enough so all our focus is on our training and preparation for the game."

On the busy schedule, with United set to play three competitive games per week before November’s international break:

“It’s strange looking back to last year, feeling that was intense and then you come into this period which is a different level but it’s something we enjoyed in the last period and the team performed really well.

“I think, hopefully, if we can continue to set our standards very high, we can continue our good form.”

On Anthony Gordon, who missed Newcastle’s Premier League trip to West Ham United after serving a one-match suspension:

“I think Anthony’s been magnificent this season. His game’s gone to another level. I think it was well documented that his fitness levels had gone to another level as well. We saw that from the first day of pre-season with us where he performed really well in our testing.

“He’s had a real determination to do well. He’s been consistent. The suspension (against West Ham) and losing him was a big blow for us because of his consistent form. He’s just become a dad for the first time so a lot has happened in his life in a short period of time. He’s in a really good place.”

On Lewis Miley, who made his first competitive start for his boyhood club in last month’s Carabao Cup victory against Manchester City at St. James’ Park:

“He’s got glandular fever so he’s currently resting from that. I think he’s probably a couple of weeks into what will be four weeks of lower physical exertion but then hopefully we can build him up.

“That’s a real blow for us and for him because he’s a real talent but I think, at such a young age, we have to nurse him through this.

“He’d certainly have been in and around the squad. He was before the illness. He’s a player we really like."