Howe provides Gordon injury update ahead of FA Cup tie

United aim to book their place in the semi-finals of the prestigious competition for the first time since 2005 ahead of travelling to the Etihad Stadium to face last season's treble winners, unbeaten on home soil across all competitions since November 2022.

Howe is hopeful Gordon, who received a first senior international call-up for England on Thursday, will be available for Saturday's cup tie whilst providing further injury updates on the likes of Harvey Barnes and Nick Pope as the Magpies target a first away victory against Man City since October 2014.

Here are some of the main talking points from the boss' pre-match media briefing at the Magpies' Training Centre in Benton on Friday morning: 

On Anthony Gordon being named in the senior England squad on Thursday ahead of the Three Lions' friendlies against Brazil and Belgium this month:

"(I'm) delighted for him. I know it's been a big and ambition of his since he was a little boy. He fully deserves it in my opinion. I think he's been outstanding this year and he's continued grow week on week. I'm delighted that's been recognised and he's worked so hard.

"From the first day of pre-season after coming back from the (Under-21) Euros with his country and doing so well there, he didn't stop. He's scored and created goals, doing brilliantly for the team."

On Gordon's injury status, with the Liverpool-born winger forced off during the first-half of the Magpies' 3-2 defeat away at Chelsea on Monday:

"It was a strange one. Initially, when you see a player come off like that, you do fear there's a serious injury but he partly trained yesterday.

"He joined in, seemed okay and I don't think he did anything serious which is great news for us. We train again today and we'll do a full session. We'll make a judgement after that.

"There was a feeling of relief regarding him. It's been a rare feeling for us that we've had one go that way. Most of the time, it has gone the other way when things don't look serious and it's turned out to be more complicated than we first thought so I'm delighted because he has been integral to our success."

On Harvey Barnes, who missed the trip to Stamford Bridge earlier this week after sustaining a hamstring injury:

"Harvey won't make the squad (for tomorrow) but we hope he'll be back for West Ham. He was very down after the Wolves game because he knew he'd just felt something in his hamstring which is going to take a period of time to get right.

"He's desperate to do well for Newcastle. You saw his quality when he came on against Luton and scored instantly. He is a goalscorer. We've missed him when he's not been available. I know the qualities he has and I'm desperate for him to show that to everybody on a consistent basis.

"He is back on the grass already so we hope he can be back and have a positive impact towards the end of the season."

On Nick Pope's potential return to playing action after the goalkeeper suffered a shoulder injury during the Magpies' 1-0 win against Manchester United in December:

"April is his target. Now, I think that will be more towards the end of April than the beginning. He's making good solid progress.

"He is out on the grass but not necessarily diving but he's doing lots of other little bits. Diving is a big test for his shoulder and that's probably the next stage of where he'll start implementing that back into his game and he's got to get his sharpness back.

"I think he's entering the final furlong in terms of his comeback. He's pleased with where he's at but he's still got a lot of hurdles to go through."

On United's last-eight tie against Pep Guardiola's reigning FA Cup winners:

"We'll have a right go. We'll attack it and try to progress to the next round. We can do it. I've got no doubt about that.

"Of course, we've got to get our game plan right, execute it to the highest level and we probably need a bit of luck along the way as well but we'll go there in a positive mood and give it our very best.

"I've watched all of (City's) recent games in depth, which is always a very interesting thing because you understand how good they are when you watch them forensically. They're an incredible football team and they have been so consistent.

"The way they play is unique to them and they have the best manager that's, arguably, ever been and elite players."