Newcastle United staff were surprised with what they saw when they turned up for work on Wednesday

On Thursday morning, Newcastle United confirmed that Eddie Howe had returned to work at the club's Benton training complex.

The club gave very little information with their announcement, but it is expected that, barring any kind of relapse, the gaffer will be in the hot seat on Friday morning as he faces the media and will be in the dugout on Saturday as Newcastle face Ipswich Town.

Eddie Howe has missed three games after being hospitalised with pneumonia, and while he was advised to rest up and recover 100% before returning to work, Eddie Howe turned up at Benton and took training on Wednesday morning.

While his contact with the staff had been steadily increasing following a spell where he was cut off entirely to recover, The Telegraph reports that staff were still shocked to see him back at work on Wednesday.

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Newcastle United gaffer Eddie Howe was determined to be back in the dugout on Saturday

The 47-year-old is a famous workaholic, so the fact that he returned to work earlier than expected isn't so much a shock, but perhaps that it was so early after such a serious health scare.

Eddie Howe was admitted to hospital on 12th April after his condition worsened. He spent a week in the care of doctors before returning home to recover.

As his strength increased, so too did his determination to get back to work, it seems, telling staff he was getting stronger every day and that he was determined to be back where he belongs in time for the Ipswich game on Saturday.

Eddie Howe said he'd been away long enough

Howe returned to work, declaring that he had been away long enough.

We're sure it's just a coincidence that he returned just a couple of days after a bruising defeat, but we're sure that his return will be a massive boost to everyone at the club.

Newcastle have a golden opportunity to repair their goal difference on Saturday against Ipswich and Eddie Howe's return could be the catalyst the lads needed.