Eddie Howe has called for a response from Newcastle as his team travel to face Tottenham in the Premier League this weekend.
The Magpies were well beaten in a 3-0 loss at Everton on Thursday evening, a defeat which leaves Newcastle seventh in the table, four points adrift of the Champions League places.
Spurs are also seeking to bounce back, after a 2-1 defeat to West Ham at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The North Londoners are five games without a win, a run which has seen Spurs drop from first to fifth.
“Tottenham have done very well this season so it’s going to be a big test for us,” Howe said at his pre-match press conference.
“We need a response and I think that will be very much on our minds. We have to put this game to bed and be ready to go again.”
Both squads are depleted with a number of key absences for both sides and Howe said his ‘stretched’ squad are feeling the impact of their injury list.
“Our squad is stretched and I’ve said that many times,” the Newcastle manager said.
“The same XI are having to go again and again and they’ve done well for us. Ideally, [during Thursday’s 3-0 defeat at Everton] I’d have been looking to the bench to freshen us up, but those options weren’t there. I have to compliment the players who have played but mentally we weren’t at our best.
“We’re used to the rhythm of playing and resting, then playing again but we desperately need help, we desperately need those injured players back.
“The amount of injuries has been concerning for us because the ability to rotate and make changes hasn’t been there. So then you have the risk of fatigued players.
“That’s not an excuse, it’s just reality and we’re having to deal with that.”
