Eddie Howe's assistant offers update on Newcastle boss after pneumonia diagnosis

Jason Tindall has confirmed that Eddie Howe will only return to Newcastle once he is 100% recovered from pneumonia. The Magpies boss was hospitalised over the weekend and consequently missed his side’s 4-1 win against Manchester United.

Newcastle then confirmed that Howe had contracted pneumonia and was continuing treatment in hospital. Tindall, who is in temporary charge of the team, gave a fresh update on his health ahead of the midweek clash with Crystal Palace.

He revealed that Howe was focused on his recovery instead of football - and would only return to the dugout once he was fit enough to do so. Speaking in a press conference, Tindall said: “It’s just been a few text messages yesterday, minimal contact really.

“The most important thing for the manager now is to rest and recover and probably not to worry about anything other than making sure he is recovered and gets himself better as quickly as possible. I would imagine in the next couple of days if he's feeling better there will be more dialogue.”

He added: “Of course, it's really difficult, especially someone that you've worked so closely with for such a long time - and as I said has never sort of missed more than a day or two in the whole time that we've been working together.

“So it's a new situation for me, it's a new situation for the players here in the football club and staff. But the most important thing - and I think the thing that sort of almost gives you comfort - is that he's in the best possible hands possible.

“He's not a silly guy, Eddie will take notice of what's said to him, and he'll make sure that he's fully recovered when he comes back and the sooner he's back, as I said before, you know, the best for everybody. But only at a time when he feels he's ready to come back and he's 100% ready to lead the team.”

Despite Howe’s ongoing absence, Newcastle managed to keep up their challenge for a Champions League spot over the weekend as they swept aside United. And Tindall has been full of praise for the club’s stars for keeping their focus and their standards high.

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He added: “I think when we've been here four years now and the expectations and the demands that have been set on the players throughout that time. Day in, day out, they know the expectations, they know the standards, and with the group of players we've got - and the leadership we've got within the group - it's down to everybody to maintain their standards.

“We know that if we slack or slip away from the standards that we've set, then we'll certainly get punished, it's that type of league, so they know the expectations.

“They stood up and they were there to be counted against Manchester United. They're gonna have to do the same, for the remaining games, whether the manager's here or he's not. That's what we would expect from them and I'm sure the type of group they are, they'll go out and do that.”

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