Eddie Howe breaks silence on pneumonia nightmare after Newcastle manager ‘crawled’ into hospital with ‘strange’ symptoms
EDDIE HOWE has broken his silence on his pneumonia nightmare.
The Newcastle United gaffer was struck down by the lung infection earlier this month and was unwell for several days.
He was eventually admitted to the hospital, where it was discovered that the infection was wreaking havoc on his body.
Howe, however, has thankfully made a full recovery and is now back at work.
The 47-year-old said of his ordeal: “I felt really bad, but I didn’t know how bad.
“I’m one of those people, probably like most, most men, that you sort of go through everything.
“You don’t necessarily then offer yourself to doctors and people because you think I’ll be okay in a couple of days and I’ll fight through it.
“I’m sort of very much in the mindset of that I’ll go through anything until you can’t.
“So I was very thankful that the doctor here, Paul Catterson, acted quickly because without that quick intervention, then possibly it could have had a different outcome.
“Then I was treated really well in hospital and thankfully now through the worst of it.”
Before going to the hospital and getting a diagnosis, Howe initially tried to sleep off the illness.
He recalled: “The symptoms were strange because I wouldn’t say there were any massive standout symptoms.
“And that was probably what made it difficult for me to push for help initially, as I just wanted to sleep.
“I did have a fever and quite a high temperature, but you just think it’s something that you’ll sleep off.
“And it didn’t really change for that, but it was just a real feeling of feeling way off what I normally would be when I’m fit and healthy.
“And then later on with pneumonia, other things come along.
“Of course, it’s affected my chest and my ability to breathe normally, but not to any alarming state.”
I felt really bad, but I didn’t know how bad.”
Eddie Howe on his pneumonia battle
On his dash to the hospital, he added: “I got a lift there and just walked in normally.
“I say walked in normally, I probably crawled in normally.
“But as I said, I was delighted to be there because I was like this is where I need to be to get better.
“Just instinctively sort of new and that’s where then the staff sort of greet you and you feel a sense of relief.”
The last six weeks have been an emotional rollercoaster for Howe, who guided Newcastle to their first domestic trophy in 70 years in last month’s Carabao Cup final against Liverpool.
Howe almost feels back to full physical and mental fitness, saying: “I’m not 100 per cent in my body.
“But I’d like to think I’m very close to 100% in my mind, which is the most important thing.
“So, yeah, I’m well enough to face you guys today.
“I try to take a positive from every experience. I think that’s really important.
“You try to do that but this has been a real challenge because your health, you take for granted. I certainly have.
“And then when you don’t have the luxury of feeling normal, it can be very difficult.
“So, yeah, certainly I’ve been through a range of emotions.”
Newcastle will be back in action on Saturday afternoon, welcoming Premier League strugglers Ipswich Town to St James’ Park.