Howe admits he ‘wasn’t conscious’ Newcastle stars watched Littler defeat

Eddie Howe has admitted that he was unaware his Newcastle stars headed off to look at Luke Littler‘s slender defeat to Michael van Gerwen on Thursday evening. 

The pair confronted off within the semi-finals on the Utilita Arena in Newcastle, with Van Gerwen storming right into a 5-3 lead earlier than Littler hit again to degree the competition.

However, Van Gerwen bounced again from lacking six match darts within the penultimate leg, as he broke Littler’s throw to clinch the decider.

On the evening, a bunch of Newcastle’s stars have been noticed in attendance as they cheered on Littler all through the thrilling semi-final conflict. 

Magpies gamers Dan Burn, Sean Longstaff, Harvey Barnes, Mark Gillispie, Paul Dummett, Elliot Anderson and Matt Targett have been all seen on a desk on the Utilita Arena on the evening. 

A bunch of Newcastle’s stars have been noticed watching Luke Littler’s Premier League match

Magpies boss Eddie Howe admitted he ‘wasn’t conscious’ that his gamers attended the occasion

Sky Sports cameras have been fast to forged the highlight on them, with a few of the gamers showing to smirk as they turned away, earlier than the incident was introduced up with Newcastle boss Howe. 

Speaking on Friday, Howe mentioned: ‘I wasn’t conscious of that so, erm… you may want to offer me a listing of names please.

He continued: ‘Hopefully it wasn’t a late evening? Maybe they need to’ve been in fancy costume!’

While a few of the Magpies gamers would’ve hoped to see Littler declare victory on the evening, as a substitute, it was Van Gerwen who emerged victorious. 

Van Gerwen is now eight factors clear on the high of the Premier League standings, with opening evening winner Michael Smith second on seven factors. 

Littler lies third on seven however is but to win a cease on the collection, with Rob Cross finishing the highest 4 on six factors. 

Littler got here up simply brief when he took on Van Gerwen of their semi-final conflict on Thursday

Van Gerwen received his third consecutive Premier League occasion to maneuver clear within the standings

Howe will definitely be hoping that his Magpies stars are feeling contemporary and match for his or her upcoming journey to title challengers Arsenal on Saturday evening. 

Newcastle head into the conflict with only one win out of their final three video games, having been held to attracts towards Bournemouth and Luton in latest weeks. 

Though their struggles on the pitch will concern Howe, the saga that may dominate his ideas is that relating to soon-to-be Man United sporting director Dan Ashworth. 

INEOS have made an strategy to Newcastle for Ashworth however have been requested for £20m, after the Mapgies positioned the ex-England man on gardening go away.

It is assumed Man United are keen to be affected person and watch for Ashworth if a compromise can’t be reached, and that will imply Newcastle paying his wages during his gardening go away.

INEOS have made an strategy to Newcastle for Ashworth however have been requested for £20m

The 52-year-old’s place felt nearly as good as untenable following Eddie Howe’s pre-match press convention on Friday, by which he expressed his concern over Ashworth’s entry to the membership’s interior workings forward of a probable defection to their rivals.

Howe mentioned then it was for ‘someone above me’ to reply whether or not Ashworth needs to be requested to depart the constructing instantly. The inference was the top coach wished the scenario resolved imminently.

Ashworth remained over the weekend, attending scouting conferences and Saturday’s 2-2 draw at dwelling to Bournemouth.

However, he knowledgeable the membership of his want to depart on Sunday, simply 20 months after becoming a member of from Brighton.