Newcastle’s Travel Plans in Turmoil Due to Storm Eowyn
As the weekend approaches, Newcastle United finds itself in a bit of a bind, thanks to the unpredictable and fierce Storm Eowyn. The storm has been wreaking havoc across parts of the United Kingdom, and it seems the Magpies are not immune to its effects. With their Premier League clash against Southampton looming, manager Eddie Howe has admitted that their travel plans could be significantly affected.
On Friday, record high winds from Storm Eowyn battered parts of the UK, prompting the UK Met Office to issue a red warning—the highest alert level—for parts of Scotland. Meanwhile, an amber warning is in force for the North East of England, leading to numerous flight cancellations out of Newcastle Airport. This is particularly concerning for Newcastle United, who are scheduled to fly out of the airport to Southampton on Friday afternoon. Their match at St Mary’s is set to kick off on Saturday at 3 p.m. GMT (10 a.m. ET).
In a press conference, Howe shared, “We will see how today goes. Our plan is to travel today but we are seeking advice from authorities and the airport if it’s safe to fly. If it’s not, we could end up travelling [Saturday] morning.”
Traveling on the day of a match is not entirely foreign to Newcastle, as Howe explained, “We have travelled on the day before to a 5.30 p.m. kick-off, you are in and you’re out. It’s slightly unusual for a 3 p.m. kick-off but just something we will have to adapt to.”
While flying is the preferred option, the team could consider traveling by coach. However, this alternative is not without its own set of challenges. Howe elaborated, “We have to be careful [with that] as the wind might turn an 8-9 hour journey into a 12-13 hour one. It is a long journey, and also there’s no guarantee with the wind and the conditions.”
Currently sitting sixth in the Premier League following last weekend’s defeat to Bournemouth, Newcastle is keen to maintain their form and prepare adequately for the game against bottom-of-the-table Southampton. Despite the adverse weather conditions, the team still plans to train on Friday.
Howe noted, “It’s windy I have to say, I struggled to get in. We need to find somewhere sheltered enough, and we do have a dome we can use but it’s whether that is safe because that’s the strongest winds I’ve seen here.”
- Newcastle United’s travel plans are in jeopardy due to Storm Eowyn.
- Record high winds have led to flight cancellations out of Newcastle Airport.
- The team is considering traveling by coach, which could take up to 13 hours.
- Newcastle is currently sixth in the Premier League.
- The team is set to face Southampton, who are at the bottom of the table.
As the storm continues to make its presence felt, Newcastle United and their fans will be hoping for a break in the weather to ensure safe travel and a successful match against Southampton. The situation remains fluid, and all eyes will be on the skies as the team makes their final travel arrangements.
Originally Written by: ESPN
