Storm Eowyn: Newcastle United official statement as Southampton travel plans in danger
Newcastle United’s travel plans are at risk of being impacted by Storm Eowyn.
An amber weather warning came into force at 6am on Friday morning and is set to remain in place until 9pm tonight with gusts of up to 90mph expected.
Newcastle Airport is among the travel operators to have been disrupted by the weather, with a series of arrivals and departures cancelled.
Eddie Howe’s side are due to fly to Southampton today for their Premier League clash at St Mary’s tomorrow. However, the Newcastle boss admits they may have to travel on the morning of the game instead.
“We'll see how today goes,” said Howe. “I think our plan as always is to travel today, but we'll seek advice from the authorities in the airport and everyone involved as to whether it's safe to fly.
“If it's not, we could end up travelling tomorrow morning.”
Newcastle would rather fly in the morning than embark on an eight to nine-hour coach journey to the South Coast this evening.
Howe continued: “It is a long journey and also there's no guarantee with the wind and the conditions that what you think might be an eight, nine hour journey might turn into a 12, 13 hour journey. So we've got to be careful I think in that respect.
“I think it's probably best that we look to do that, but nothing's guaranteed. We'll seek advice and try and make the right decision.”
“Yes, I don't think it changes too much, to be honest,” Howe added. “I think we've done it before ourselves. We've travelled on the day for a 5:30 kick-off, especially if the airport's close to the ground. And sometimes that's the easiest way. You're in and you're out.
“For a 3 o'clock kick-off, that's slightly unusual. But it's something we just have to adapt to. (5:50) I don't see an issue with it.”
Training at Newcastle’s Benton training ground this morning is set to take place in doors.
Howe said: “Well, it is slightly windy, I have to say. I struggled to get in a second ago!
“I think hopefully we can find a place that is sheltered enough so the ball doesn't deviate too much and we can actually train normally. We do have a dome that we use, but it's whether that's safe, because that's the strongest winds I've ever seen here or felt here.”