The Magpies returned to winning ways with an emphatic win against the Seagulls at St. James’ Park and can seal Champions League qualification with one more victory in their final two Premier League fixtures.
Howe’s side quickly turn their attention to Dean Smith's Foxes, who could be forced to record maximum points on Tyneside, should weekend results go against them, in order to avoid Premier League relegation before the final day of the 2022/23 season.
Barely 12 hours on from defeating Brighton, here are some of the main talking points from the Newcastle boss’ pre-match media briefing at the Magpies’ training ground base in Benton on Friday morning...
On facing Leicester after last night’s five-goal thriller against Brighton & Hove Albion…
“We’ll want the same again. I’ve got no doubt the crowd will be there for us. We really have to take the good feeling from Brighton and the confidence that game should give us but then forget it and focus purely on a totally different game.
“Tactically, it will be totally different but we have to be ready for a tough match."
On fresh injury concerns, with the likes of Joe Willock and Joelinton forced to withdraw in the second-half against Brighton…
“Today, I’ll be straight to the physio room after this to see how everybody is. We’ve got a few concerns. The lads gave so much to the game yesterday and they’ve given a lot to the season physically. I hope there’s no serious effects.
“It looks like Joe Willock may be in trouble with his hamstring and we might lose him for the rest of the season but that’s unclear as I sit here now. Fingers crossed, our team will still be strong.
“Sometimes, after a game, there’s a lot of emotion running through the players’ bodies so injuries can appear worse at that moment. I certainly hope that is the case and they wake up today feeling a bit better.
“As this moment, (Sean Longstaff) is doubtful. He hasn’t trained. He’s improving but we’ll wait and see.”
On Callum Wilson’s current form, who scored his 18th Premier League goal of the 2022/23 campaign in the closing stages against Albion…
“He’d probably tell me there’s been a better spell somewhere down the line. My first season with him at Bournemouth, in the Championship, I thought he was electric but this is at the very highest level. This is against the best defenders and teams in the world.
“I’d say he’s performing at the best level I’ve ever seen him at. I complimented him yesterday not in terms of the goal he scored but his intelligence on the press for us.
"He is the one that has to set the chain off and has to get it right otherwise the team suffers. I thought his tactical understanding was as good as I’ve seen."
On Elliot Anderson, who could mitigate Willock’s role in the middle of the park against the Foxes…
“When you look back to the start of the season, I’d say he would now consider himself a first-team player as a fully integrated member of the first-team squad.
“He’s trained consistently throughout the season. It’s very difficult for those lads that haven’t played regularly and when the team wins consistently, performing as well as they have to, wait for their chance. He’s a young player that’s been desperate to play.
"He’s controlled his emotions really well and I do believe he’s added elements and improved certain parts of his game that needed to improve. I’d say he’s ready. He’s versatile so he proved that against Brighton. He came on the right hand side of midfield. He’s predominantly used by me as a left-sided player and he’s very much capable so we believe in him.
“He showed in his loan spell last year that he’s a big game player. When Bristol Rovers needed him, he stood up and made the difference. It could be a chance for him to do that again."
On Leicester, Premier League champions in 2015/16, who are targeting Premier League safety despite competing in the Europa League last season…
“It can happen to any team in any season. Things can sometimes conspire against you. Leicester have some outstanding individuals and are a really strong team when you look at it as a whole but that is the Premier League.
“I’m not going to talk about Leicester’s reasons for being in the position that they’re in currently. All I know is I know their qualities. Dean Smith is an outstanding manager.
"He’s been given a tough task but focussing back on ourselves at home and the energy that we gave for the Brighton game and the intensity we played at, that’s the standard for us and what we want to try and recreate.”
On being shortlisted for the Premier League Manager of the Season, whilst reflecting on Young Player of the Season nominees Sven Botman and Alexander Isak as well as Player of the Season nominee Kieran Trippier …
“Speaking on behalf of the players, it’s brilliant to see the two nominations for the Young Player (of the Season) and deservedly so (for Sven Botman and Alexander Isak).
“I can’t speak of Kieran highly enough this year. He’s been magnificent and was again last night. I’m really pleased for the players concerned and I’ve been nominated on behalf of everybody. That’s how I look at it.
“Without the coaching staff and players, my name wouldn’t be there.”
On Lewis Miley, with the Stanley-born teenager named on the bench for last night’s win against the Seagulls...
“Lewis is a real talent. He’s been training with the team for the majority of the season. The biggest compliment I can give him is he hasn’t looked out of place. He’s looked like part of the group and for someone so young to, technically, survive within the group is no mean feat.
“Some of the drills we do are very difficult and he’s survived in those so that’s a big thing. I would have no question marks about putting him in and whether he’s ready or not, that will come down to how he performs.
“Part of me wanted Lewi to go away and represent his country. That would have been a great experience for him but then you have to take the viewpoint that I felt his club needed him here.
"We have a very small squad, currently, with a lot of injuries building up with the end of the season and what the players have given so he’s got an important part to play."
