Howe to miss Newcastle bow after testing positive for coronavirus

Eddie Howe will be absent as his Newcastle United tenure begins on Saturday after testing positive for coronavirus.

Former Bournemouth manager Howe was named Newcastle's new head coach at the start of the international break, the first appointment at St James' Park since the club's lucrative Saudi-backed takeover.

After two weeks on the training pitch, attention has turned to the visit of Brentford in the Premier League on Saturday as Newcastle aim to end their club-record 11-game winless start.

But the Magpies will be without Howe in the dugout as he has been forced to isolate having returned a positive COVID-19 test.

Howe's assistant Jason Tindall and former caretaker boss Graeme Jones will lead the team against Brentford.

Howe said in a message to fans: "I'm very disappointed that I won't be there with you all at St James' Park tomorrow. But it is incredibly important that I follow the guidelines and self-isolate.

"I'd like to reassure everyone that I feel fine, and while this is unwelcome news for me, I know it hasn't derailed our preparations for what is an important game.

"I have been, and will be, in constant communication with my coaching team and the players, both tomorrow and during the week, and I know they will be giving everything on and off the pitch."