NEWCASTLE UNITED look set for a hectic 700-mile round day trip to Southampton after their travel plans were hit by Storm Eowyn.
The Magpies head to the South Coast for the 3pm Premier League clash looking to bounce back from last week’s crushing defeat to Bournemouth.
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However, Eddie Howe is sweating that his pre-match plans for their longest journey of the season are not scuppered by the bad weather.
The Toon boss and his squad are due to fly to Southampton this afternoon after training from Samsonthe, the executive jet facility located on the south apron of Newcastle International Airport.
But Tyneside and the rest of the North East has been hit by Storm Eowyn and strong winds, leading to the Met Office issuing a “danger to life” warning for the large parts of the region.
The 9.40 LoganAir Southampton to Newcastle flight was cancelled as is the 17:55 return flight.
That is one of at least nine flights cancelled courtesy of the wind and Howe says his men could be forced to scrap their overnight stay and travel early tomorrow instead as they anxiously wait to see if they get the green light for take off.
He continued: “Our plan is, as always, to travel today but we’ll seek advice from the authorities, the airport and everyone involved to see whether it’s safe to fly.
“If it’s not then we could end up travelling tomorrow morning.”
When asked whether a seven hour coach trip was an option, Howe added: “It is a long journey.
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“Also, there’s no guarantee with the wind and the conditions that what you think might be an eight or nine hour journey might not turn into a 12 or 13 hour one.
“We’ve got to be careful, I think, in that respect. So I think it’s best that we look to do that [morning flight].
“But nothing is guaranteed. We’ll look to get advice and try to make the right decision.”
However, should Newcastle’s players have to face the early start and long day of travel, Howe was adamant that it would have zero impact on their performance at St Marys.
He added: “I don’t think it changes too much. We’ve done it before ourselves and travelled on the day for say a 5.30pm kick-off, especially if the airport is close to the ground, and sometimes that’s the easiest way as you’re in and out.
“For a 3pm kick-off it’s slightly unusual but it’s something that we’ll have to adapt to and I don’t see an issue with it.”
