“They needed it,” Howe said on their extended break. “It was essential we gave them a break from the rigours of football and all the pressures that come with it but they’ve come back in really good shape, trained very well the last few days so very happy with them. They will, fingers crossed at this moment, be involved at the weekend.
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“We do believe in trying to give people as close to 90 minutes as we can a week before the season starts, and the only way to do that is to have two games because you have a squad and numbers wise it’s the way it works.
“But this year, it’s slightly different as we have players coming back at different stages so we have to manage the minutes well but also the majority of the players have to be ready to play 90 minutes against Southampton in a week’s time so it is an important weekend for us.”
Howe says Gordon has been “really impressive” since returning, news that will be music to Newcastle fans’ ears after learning about Liverpool’s interest.
Former Newcastle co-owner Amanda Staveley revealed last month she feared the club would have to sell Gordon in order to comply with Premier League Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR). That was before United solve their critical situation at the 11th hour through the sales of Yankuba Minteh and Elliot Anderson to Brighton & Hove Albion and Nottingham Forest, respectively, for a combined £68million.
It has bee suggested that the exit talk had unnerved Gordon, particularly with it being his boyhood club, but Howe said: “His head is exactly where Bruno’s is, it’s Newcastle. The first few days he has been exceptional, focused on his work, fitness - everything to do with this football club, nothing else, no distractions. He’s been really impressive.”
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