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00:00Yeah, we are at Newcastle United Media Centre where we've just been speaking to Jason Tindall
00:05ahead of Wednesday's Premier League clash against Crystal Palace.
00:09It's St James Park. Tindall again, of course, stepping in for Eddie Howe who missed the Manchester United game
00:14on Sunday through illness, was admitted hospital on Friday.
00:18Now, we didn't know the exact nature of what was wrong with Eddie Howe on Sunday,
00:22but Newcastle confirmed the club's statement on Monday evening that he had been diagnosed with pneumonia
00:27and is in hospital recovering and will miss the two games against Crystal Palace and Aston Villa on Saturday.
00:35When will Eddie Howe return? Well, I think that's up to him and when he is feeling 100%.
00:40I don't think there's any pressure from anyone in Newcastle United to get Eddie Howe back.
00:43Of course, everyone wants him back sooner rather than later, but the main thing right now is his health
00:48and him getting the recovery time that he needs.
00:51And while it's next week, next month or next season, the most important thing that Eddie Howe does make
00:55a full recovery, and that's one thing I'll give Eddie Howe and his coaches really, real credit to.
01:01It's the fact that even though he's not here, it's still very much business as usual.
01:06Jason Tindall, his coaches, know what they're doing.
01:09The players are so well drilled.
01:11So, again, as much as Eddie Howe isn't here, you've got confidence that Newcastle can go out
01:17and see this Champions League qualification challenge.
01:19And that's a big week on that front because Newcastle win against Crystal Palace on Wednesday
01:25and move up to third in the Premier League table.
01:27Even the draw against Crystal Palace move up to third in the Premier League table ahead of Nottingham Forest,
01:32which didn't feel possible a few months ago because Nottingham Forest were fly.
01:35Newcastle, I'd say, have been patchy in the league this season, bar that sort of winning run.
01:40But from the Carabao Cup final, All-Mads recording three straight wins is very, very impressive.
01:46And if they can keep on that run, then they'll put themselves in an absolutely fantastic position.
01:51Crystal Palace has, of course, no easy game.
01:53I think Manchester United aren't the best team at this moment in time.
01:59I think Crystal Palace pose a bigger threat, if I'm being honest.
02:02So, I think Newcastle will have a harder game against Crystal Palace than they did against Manchester United.
02:06And they'll have to be already.
02:07I think Crystal Palace probably falls into the bracket of teams Newcastle have struggled against this season.
02:12I think the likes of Fulham, they've lost to it at home.
02:14Bournemouth, Brighton, so it's sort of similar brackets.
02:18I do think they pose a very, very difficult threat.
02:20But if Newcastle can get through that game with three points,
02:23then they've put themselves in a fantastic position,
02:26heading up the remaining six games of the season.
02:29Aston Villa on Saturday is always a tough place to go.
02:31Newcastle had a fair share of decent results down there at Villa Park,
02:34but they've also had a hammering a couple of years ago as well.
02:37When they finished in the Champions League last time, they've got beat three now down there.
02:40So, it's a very, very big week.
02:43Let's see what Newcastle United can do on that front.
02:47Team news, Joe Willick is back involved tomorrow night.
02:51He's been following concussion protocols, but he is now back available.
02:57So, we'll likely go on the bench and bolster that squad,
03:01which before this week had looked sort of weak.
03:05An attacking option, shall I say, or lack of attacking options.
03:07There wasn't many.
03:08But Anthony Gordon has returned as well.
03:10Obviously, he played.
03:11He came on off the bench against Manchester United.
03:13He got some minutes under his belt.
03:15So, having Joe Willick as well gives him some really exciting attacking options off the bench.
03:21And, yeah, the squad remains the same from the win against Manchester United on Sunday.