Eddie Howe has drafted in Alan Shearer and Steve Howey to try to help ease Newcastle United’s growing injury crisis.
The Magpies boss decided to take drastic action after half of his first-team players were admitted into the St James’ Park infirmary.
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND – AUGUST 05: Jason Tindall (R), Assistant Manager of Newcastle United looks on with Eddie Howe, Manager of Newcastle United, during the Sela Cup match between ACF Fiorentina and Newcastle United at St James’ Park on August 05, 2023 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)
As his side enters a crucial part of their season, ultimately hoping to cement another top-four finish in the Premier League and progressing to the knockout stages of the Champions League, a close colleague of Howe’s told Paddy Power News:
“When Callum Wilson got crocked in Dortmund, Eddie was straight on the phone to Shearer to ask if he would be fit enough to face Bournemouth this weekend.
“Alan said he would have to clear it with his Match of the Day bosses first, but he is hopeful that Martin Keown will return a favour and fill in for him. If he can’t, Eddie’ll have to look up Stephane Guivarc’h’s number instead, and no one wants to see that.”
Veteran defender Howey is also reported to be ready to answer the manager’s SOS call and in recent days has been spotted doing bleep tests across the Tyne Bridge in a bid to be fit.
A pal of Howey’s told us:
“Steve’s been playing for his local pub side for the past couple of seasons and although he is carrying a little excess timber, he reckons that he is faced better strikers on a Sunday morning than he would at Bournemouth.
“He asked Eddie if he could bring the family down and make a weekend of it.”
On Saturday, Howe returns to the club where he cut his teeth in management and Paddy Power News sources on the south coast understand he’s been trying to coax some of his former charges to head north and help.
“Jermaine Defoe and Jack Wilshire both had their phones turned off,” a source told us, but there was some good news for the ex-Cherries gaffer too.
“The boss has just finished talking to Matty Tubbs and he wants to help out” a club insider told us, “He’s agreed to fill in for Shearer on Saturday if he must leave at half-time to get back to London to fulfil his BBC contract.
“Eddie also found a number with no name against it, turned out it belonged to Juan Iturbe who said he had unfinished business in the Premier League having made just two appearances during a stint at the Vitality stadium previously and would happily lend a hand.
“Trouble is, Eddie doesn’t actually remember ever seeing him play and denies ever having signed him.”
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