Newcastle’s Eddie Howe Back on Duty After Pneumonia Battle

Newcastle United confirmed on Thursday that manager Eddie Howe has returned to his duties at the club’s training centre after recovering from pneumonia.

The 47-year-old was hospitalized earlier this month and missed league games against Manchester United, Crystal Palace, and Aston Villa.

“Newcastle United are delighted to confirm that Eddie Howe has returned to his duties at the club’s training centre,” the club announced.

“Eddie had recently been hospitalised with pneumonia and has now returned to work after a period of recovery. We thank supporters for their warm wishes.”

During Howe’s absence, assistant manager Jason Tindall led the team to convincing wins over Manchester United and Crystal Palace, but they suffered a heavy defeat to Aston Villa.

Newcastle, currently fifth in the table, will host Ipswich on Saturday, aiming to regain momentum in their push for Champions League qualification.

The top five finishers in the Premier League will qualify for Europe’s top club competition next season.

While Liverpool is on the verge of the title and Arsenal is favored to finish second, the battle for the remaining spots remains intense, with only four points separating third-placed Manchester City from seventh-placed Aston Villa.