Saints game off as Covid continues to hit Toon

Last updated : 02 January 2022 By C. Morris

No league game until mid-January for Magpies

Newcastle United were supposed to make the long trip south to face Southampton this afternoon but the impact of Covid means that Eddie Howe’s team have had their second successive match postponed due to the pandemic following the postponement of match at Everton on 30th December.

With Newcastle set to face Cambridge United in the FA Cup next week it means that by the time they are scheduled to play their next Premier League game, against Watford at St James’ Park on 15th January, it will have been close to three weeks since they played a league game.

With injuries also impacting on the squad it might be argued that the break has come at a good time for the Toon and with the January transfer window now open, the club may be able to bring in some much needed additions in the next couple of weeks. The recent results of the teams around Newcastle at the bottom of the table have also been favourable and the gap to safety has not grown significantly. No doubt Newcastle fans will have an eye on today’s game at Elland Road where 16th-placed Leeds United take on 18th-placed Burnley.