Eddie Howe 鈥榥ot 100 percent鈥� on Newcastle return after pneumonia

Eddie Howe, who led Newcastle to their first major trophy in 56 years earlier this season, is not completely recovered but was keen to get back to work with the League Cup winners. (Action Images via Reuters)
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  • Newcastle boss went into hospital on April 11 after feeling unwell for several days
  • He missed his side鈥檚 Premier League fixtures against Manchester United, Crystal Palace and Aston Villa

LONDON: Newcastle boss Eddie Howe admitted he does not feel 鈥�100 percent鈥� after returning to work following his serious bout of pneumonia.
Howe went into hospital on April 11 after feeling unwell for several days and missed his side鈥檚 Premier League fixtures against Manchester United, Crystal Palace and Aston Villa.
The 47-year-old, who led Newcastle to their first major trophy in 56 years earlier this season, is not completely recovered but was keen to get back to work with the League Cup winners.
鈥淚鈥檓 OK. I鈥檓 not 100 percent in my body, but I鈥檇 like to think I鈥檓 very close to 100 percent in my mind, which is the most important thing,鈥� Howe told reporters on Friday.
鈥淚 tried to take a positive from every experience, I think that鈥檚 really important to try and do that, but this has been a real challenge because your health, you take for granted.
鈥淚 certainly have and when you don鈥檛 have the luxury of feeling normal, it can be very difficult.
鈥淚 certainly have been through a range of emotions, but thankfully I feel like I鈥檓 on the road to recovery, which is the most important thing and I鈥檓 delighted to be here.鈥�
Assistant coach Jason Tindall filled in for Howe, securing comprehensive wins over United and Palace before last weekend鈥檚 4-1 loss at Villa.
With fifth-placed Newcastle in the midst of a tense battle to qualify for the Champions League via a top five finish, Howe will be back at St. James鈥� Park for Saturday鈥檚 clash with lowly Ipswich.
鈥淔or those first two games, I was watching and involved. I wasn鈥檛 feeling well enough to probably enjoy the performances, but a big thank you to the players because they gave everything in those two games to get two massive wins for us,鈥� he said.
鈥淭he staff behaved and acted absolutely brilliantly so a real tribute to them and now I鈥檓 back I hope I can add something to the group as we go into the last five games.鈥�
Asked if his illness could have become life-threatening without quick action, Howe said: 鈥淚鈥檓 one of those people, probably like most men, that you sort of go through everything, you don鈥檛 necessarily offer yourself to doctors and people but think 鈥業鈥檒l be ok in a couple of days, I鈥檒l fight through it鈥�.
鈥淪o I was very thankful the doctor here, Paul Catterson, acted quickly because without that quick intervention it could possibly have had a different outcome.鈥�
It will be a while before Howe feels able to join in training with his players, but he is relieved to get back to the daily routine.
鈥淚 came back in and it was normal service resumed, probably minus running around,鈥� he said.
鈥淎 lot more reserved physically and I think I鈥檓 gonna be that way for a while, but certainly back to normal service.鈥�