Eddie Howe tests positive for Covid-19 and will MISS his first match as Newcastle manager against Brentford on Saturday after going into isolation in a major blow on the dawn of a new Magpies era

• New Newcastle manager Eddie Howe has tested positive for coronavirus
• The 43-year-old was due to manage the Magpies for the first time on Saturday
• Howe will now be absent from the dugout for Saturday's visit of Brentford 
• Assistant head coaches Jason Tindall and Graeme Jones will take charge instead
• Howe is also set to miss next weekend's trip to Arsenal due to his self-isolation 

Eddie Howe will miss his first match in charge of Newcastle United after testing positive for Covid-19.

The 43-year-old learned the news on Friday following a routine test, just 24 hours before the visit of Brentford to St James’ Park.

Assistant head coaches Jason Tindall and Graeme Jones will now lead the team as they go in search of their first win of the season.

Sportsmail understands Howe will FaceTime each player individually before and after the game. He has also had an action plan in place for this eventuality since the outbreak of the pandemic in March of last year.

He will now begin a period of self-isolation - ordinarily 10 days - but there remains a chance he could return ahead of next Saturday’s trip to Arsenal, depending on when symptoms started.

Howe said: ‘I’m very disappointed that I won’t be there with you all at St. James’ Park tomorrow, but it is incredibly important that I follow the guidelines and self-isolate.

‘I’d like to reassure everyone that I feel fine, and while this is unwelcome news for me, I know it hasn’t derailed our preparations for what is an important game.

‘I have been, and will be, in constant communication with my coaching team and the players, both tomorrow and during the week, and I know they will be giving everything on and off the pitch.’

Howe was appointed as head coach by the new Saudi-led owners last week and has spent the intervening period working with his players on the training ground.

News of his absence from the game has been met with disappointment by supporters, who have taken well to the former Bournemouth boss since his arrival.