Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe has thanked fans for his or her messages of support as he continues his recovery in hospital after being diagnosed with pneumonia.
Howe suddenly fell sick last Friday evening and the 47-year-old has been kept in hospital for ongoing tests and treatment within the intervening days.
It meant Howe was not on the touchline to observe over Newcastle’s rampant 4-1 win over Manchester United at St James’ Park on the weekend.
Jason Tindall and Graeme Jones led the Magpies in Howe’s absence on Tyneside and can continuing doing so for the club’s upcoming Premier League matches against Crystal Palace and Aston Villa.
‘An enormous thanks to everyone connected with Newcastle United and the broader football community to your messages and warm wishes. They’ve meant rather a lot to me and my family,’ Howe told Newcastle’s official website.
‘I also wish to pay tribute to our incredible NHS and the hospital staff who’ve treated me.
‘I’m immensely grateful for the specialist care I’m receiving and, after a period of recovery, I sit up for being back as soon as possible.’
Speaking prior to Sunday’s victory over the Red Devils, Newcastle’s assistant Tindall said everyone on the club was united of their support of Howe.
‘He was taken to hospital on Friday evening,’ Tindall told reporters.
‘Everybody wishes him the very best and I’m sure he’ll be back with us again soon.’
On Howe’s involvement in Newcastle’s team selection, Tindall added: ‘I believe once you’ve been sick all week it’s very difficult to have the form of input that I’m sure he would normally have.
‘But the best way we work, we all know the expectations, we’ve got a implausible group of players, and so they know the demands that the manager and everybody else will placed on them.
‘So it’s essential that they exit and deliver the performance that the manager will probably be happy with.’
After the win, Tindall revealed that Howe had passed on a message to the squad congratulating them on their excellent display in his absence.
‘I’ve just seen a message from him before I got here to do the press congratulating the performance from everybody and the team,’ Tindall told Sky Sports.
‘He was in a position to watch it and I’m sure that could have lifted his spirits.’
Sunday’s result saw Newcastle return to the highest 4 – and Howe’s men have a game in hand over their rivals.
Victory at home to Palace on Wednesday would see the Toon leapfrog Nottingham Forest into third place, while strengthening their position for Champions League qualification.
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