Newcastle United faced Manchester United at St. James’ Park on Sunday, April 13, 2025, in a crucial Premier League encounter, but their head coach, Eddie Howe, was notably absent from the touchline. The club confirmed that Howe missed the match due to an undisclosed illness that led to his hospitalization late on Friday evening.
According to a statement released by Newcastle United on Saturday, Howe, 47, had been feeling unwell for several days prior to his admission. Medical staff decided to keep him in hospital overnight for further tests, which were ongoing as of Sunday. The club emphasized that Howe remained conscious and was able to communicate with his family while receiving expert medical care. “Everyone at Newcastle United extends their best wishes to Eddie for a speedy recovery, and further updates will follow in due course,” the statement read.
Assistant head coaches Jason Tindall and Graeme Jones stepped in to lead the team in Howe’s absence, supported by the club’s first-team staff. Tindall, who had taken on media duties on Friday when Howe was unable to attend the pre-match press conference, initially expressed optimism that the head coach would recover in time for the game. However, Howe’s condition required continued medical attention, ruling him out of the high-stakes fixture.
Tindall, speaking to Sky Sports before the match, addressed Howe’s situation: “Obviously, he’s not been well this week, and he was admitted into hospital on Friday evening. Everybody wishes him all the best, and I’m sure he’ll be back with us again soon.” He added that the team was well-prepared to deliver a performance that would make Howe proud, highlighting the squad’s understanding of the manager’s expectations.
This is not the first time Howe has missed a Newcastle match. In November 2021, shortly after his appointment, he was absent for his first game in charge—a 3-3 draw against Brentford—due to a positive COVID-19 test. On that occasion, Tindall also took the reins alongside Jones.