Six questions for Eddie Howe to answer ahead of Newcastle's clash at Tottenham

Eddie Howe will face the media on Friday morning ahead of Newcastle United's return to Premier League action against Tottenham. The Magpies have been training on Tyneside following a warm-weather training camp in Dubai, looking to bounce back from two defeats before the international break.

Newcastle remain nine points clear of the relegation zone, and will be aiming to avoid a third straight loss ahead of a run of three consecutive home fixtures. However, Tottenham seem to have stabilised their form under Antonio Conte, and boast an in-form attacking trident in Son Heung-min, Harry Kane and January signing Dejan Kulusevski.

Howe will address a range of topics on Friday morning ahead of the televised encounter this weekend. Here is a look at the questions the United head coach should expect to face.

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Allan Saint-Maximin has not started a match since the narrow home victory against Aston Villa in February, with injury and illness both ruling him out of recent fixtures. The French forward's last three appearances have all come from the bench, and the 16-day break could have come at the right time for him to return to full fitness.

Saint-Maximin has taken to social media in the last fortnight to respond to critics following his mixed recent displays, but he remains the Magpies' second top-scorer this season. Howe will almost be certainly asked for an injury update on the 25-year-old, and his view on the attacker's recent displays.

Newcastle have made the most of the break in the domestic calendar to jet off for their second warm-weather training camp of 2022. The Magpies travelled to Saudi Arabia at the end of January,