Eddie Howe makes fitness admission on Newcastle trio including "huge personality" ahead of Crystal Palace trip

Eddie Howe has said that he is desperate to have strikers Callum Wilson and Alexander Isak fit ahead of their trip to Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon with suggestions that Sandro Tonali could also get more minutes.

Palace come off the back of a 2-2 draw to Aston Villa where they let a lead slip away after a second-half equaliser from Ross Barkley which led the two teams to share the points at Villa Park. Palace sit 19th in the Premier League, one point from safety.

They are winless in their last three games and have been struggling with defensive issues, conceding six goals in their last three games under manager Oliver Glasner who remains under pressure following a poor start to the season. They face a Newcastle United side who come off the back of a 2-0 defeat to West Ham and will be keen to get back to winning ways at Selhurst Park on Saturday afternoon.

Magpies boss Eddie Howe has said that it is key for his team to have both Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson available up front as the latter recently returned from a long-term injury.

He said in his Friday press conference: “Psychologically when you know you've got a player of Callum and Alex's [Isak] quality fighting for the shirt, that can only increase your awareness of staying absolutely on top of yourself. They're two absolute competitors, both very different in their games but fighters, and they both want to play. I'd love to have the opportunity to work with them both over a prolonged period because they offer so much to the team."

He was quick to praise former Bournemouth striker Wilson who made just his third appearance since the final day of the 2022/23 season in a 4-2 win against Brentford due to back-to-back hamstring injuries. Howe said: “It's a big moment for him now. He needs to stay fit, we need him to stay fit. We know what qualities he has on and off the pitch. He's a huge personality."

Howe suggests £49m midfielder could get more time against Palace

The Newcastle manager also mentioned Italian midfielder Sandro Tonali in his press conference as he missed 10 months for breaching betting rules. However, he is now back for Newcastle and gradually improving his match fitness.

Tonali is yet to start this season, but he did come on in the 57th minute against West Ham on Monday night and Howe has hinted that he could get more time this weekend. He added: “Sandro's been good. He's trained really well, especially this week. I've been really pleased with his contribution. He's fighting for a place and doing himself no harm on that."