Everything said about Eddie Howe after pneumonia diagnosis & when he will return to Newcastle United

Newcastle United are unsure when Eddie Howe will return to work after their head coach was diagnosed with pneumonia.

Howe was admitted to hospital on Friday evening after feeling unwell for a number of days. He missed the 4-1 win over Manchester United on Sunday before it was confirmed 24 hours later that he had pneumonia.

The 47-year-old is recovering in hospital and will therefore miss matches against Crystal Palace and Aston Villa this week. The Magpies then host Ipswich Town at St James’ Park on April 26 but there are no guarantees that Howe will be back in the dugout.

Newcastle assistant coach Jason Tindall, who is leading the team alongside Graeme Jones in Howe’s absence, was unable to provide an exact timeframe on when Howe will return, insisting that’ll only happen when he’s feeling 100%.

Here’s everything Tindall said ahead of the Premier League clash against Crystal Palace:

Can you tell us how Eddie Howe is doing?

JT: “That's the only update really. We've had minimal dialogue together since that announcement. As we know, he's in the best possible hands and he'll be back as soon as he feels he's ready to come back and 100% to lead the team.”

Obviously his health has to come first. How much does this put into perspective everything, football and health and what's important?

JT: “Of course. As we know, your health is the most important thing and that's why it's so important that when Eddie does decide to come back, he comes back and is able to lead the team as we know he does, day in, day out. He's fully recovered and I'm sure he will do. As I said, he's in the best possible hands right now.”

What sort of role, if any, will Eddie play in helping prepare the team for the matches in the weeks ahead?

JT: “We had almost minimal contact in terms of preparations but we know the expectations and demands that we put on each other and ourselves each and every day and it's going to have to remain that way until the manager is back.

“But we know what we need to do, we know how we prepare and we need to prepare right to make sure that we can go and deliver performances, as I said, the weekend that the manager would be proud of.”

And for you personally, how do you feel about continuing to lead while Eddie Howe is away from the club recovering?

JT: “Obviously it's part of my job and I'll do the best I possibly can in his absence. We've worked together for 17 years now so we know what is expected of each other and hopefully I can deliver the same messages as what he would want and hopefully he'll be back as soon as possible.”

You said on Sunday after the match that Eddie messaged you congratulations for how well you guys did. Have you been able to have any more conversations about the performance or looking ahead to this game?

JT: “It's just been a few text messages yesterday, minimal contact really. As we said, I think the most important thing for the manager now is to rest and to recover and probably not to worry too much about anything other than making sure he's recovered and he gets himself better as quickly as possible.

“I imagine the next couple of days, if he's feeling better, maybe we'll have a little bit more dialogue but as it stands as we are now there's been minimal contact.”

I guess for Eddie when he comes back, you'll want to make sure he's 100%?

JT: “Of course. I think when health is involved, the most important thing is that comes first and foremost above everything else and I'm sure when Eddie does return he will probably ease himself in to the role but it's important that when he does come back he's able to lead the team like he always does and hopefully that soon

“It's a day-by-day thing, but he's in the best possible hands right now and as I say hopefully we can have him here as our leader as soon as possible but only when he's 100% right to do so.”

Have there been any examples of maybe what the players are doing behind the scenes to step up and take on that extra responsibility without Eddie being there?

JT: “He's been here nearly 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 those 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 going to 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.”

It's easy to forget that Eddie's not just a colleague, he's your mate. How difficult has it been for you to see your mate unwell in hospital over the last few days?

JT: “Of course, it's really difficult, especially someone that you've worked so closely with for such a long time and as I said, he's never 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 at the football club and staff.

“But the most important thing and I think the thing that almost gives you comfort is that he's in the best possible hands.

“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, the best for everybody, but only at a time when he feels he's ready to come back and he's 100% to lead the team.”

Can you give us an idea of how different your job has been day to day, how much more difficult maybe it's been with Eddie not here?

JT: “The media duties are probably the thing that you're not used to and that takes up obviously more time. But in terms of the preparations and the day-to-day stuff, we've worked together for so long, we've worked in a way that we always have done so from that perspective it's no different.

“You obviously prepare training but you haven't got the manager by your side with the experience and the help that you would normally have. So it's been difficult from that perspective that now you've not got your leader there but everything else is as it always has been and it has to be that way. We have to keep things the same and the players understand that, the players know that.”

What would it mean to you to hand back the reins to Eddie with the club in a better position?

JT: “Of course, That's obviously what I personally want to do and the rest of the staff and the players, They want to go and deliver performances and results that the manager would want and he would be proud of. That's our main goal and that's what we're working towards every single day, and hopefully we can do that.

“We've got a fantastic group of players, great attitude, great leaders. Everybody stepped up against Manchester United and everybody is going to need to step up and be at their best for the remainder of the season.”

Will Eddie’s work schedule change after health scare?

JT: “Only he will be able to answer that question but knowing how we've worked together for so many years now, that's (his all-in approach) how he's always been and that's what's brought us success. I think he'll continue to be that way, he won't know how to work any other way.”

Is it fair to say there's no exact time frame for Eddie's return?

JT: “No exact time frame, that's something that will be assessed day by day. It’s certainly not a question that I can answer. As we said, he's in the best possible hands in the hospital and everything will be guided by them and himself. And it'll just be a day-by-day thing.”

So it feels like there's no pressure on him to come back at any stage before the season's done?

JT: “He'll only come back when he's ready to come back and when he feels he's ready to come back, under the guidance of the people that's taking care of him.”

Are you preparing to be in charge for the remaining seven games of the season?

JT: “As and when called upon. For me, it's a game-by-game day thing and I'm here to step into Ed's shoes as and when I need to, that's my job, that's what I have to do supported by the excellent staff that we've got here at the football club.

“Hopefully the manager will be back sooner rather than later but only at a time when he feels ready. Whenever that is ,it's my duty to stand in for him.”

Are there any plans to visit him in hospital?

JT: “At the right time. He's in good hands at the minute and he's been taken care of by the best possible people and I think at a time when he feels ready for people to maybe go and see him then for sure I will do, yeah."

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