Eddie Howe has not given up hope of leading Newcastle for the first time at Arsenal on Saturday.
The 43-year-old will have to return a negative test to be released from his Covid-19 isolation, with symptoms having been traced back to at least 10 days before the game.
Newcastle are preparing for assistant Jason Tindall to face the media on Friday morning and, as it stands, he will take the team at the Emirates Stadium.
However, it is understood that a negative test would free Howe to travel to London for the lunchtime kick-off.