NEWCASTLE UNITED are hoping Eddie Howe will be given the green light to travel to Arsenal next weekend despite having tested positive for Covid.

Howe was unable to attend St James’ Park this afternoon as his Tyneside tenure began with a 3-3 draw with Brentford that resulted in the Magpies dropping to the foot of the Premier League table.

Having recorded a positive Covid test yesterday, Howe is having to self-isolate. The Government’s regulations stipulate that the self-isolation period must be ten days from either the day of a positive test or the day in which symptoms started.

At this stage, it is not clear whether Howe is symptomatic, and if he is, when he first became aware of his symptoms. However, his assistant, Jason Tindall, is hoping he will be able to travel to the Emirates for next Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off.

Tindall said: “We’ll review this game back first and foremost before we’re back in training. And then, once that’s been reviewed back, we’ll give the feedback to the team. Then, preparation and focus then becomes on Arsenal.

“Hopefully, we can have Ed back before the Arsenal game. We’re just waiting on the doctor for that. That’s a little bit out of our hands and control. Ed will be a big influence on how we prepare.”