Eddie Howe’s squad have little time to recover for Saturday’s Premier League match with Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea
Newcastle United’s Tino Livramento picked up a knee injury against Fulham(Image: Getty Images)
You could forgive Eddie Howe for wrapping up Malick Thiaw and Fabian Schar in cotton wool this week as he tried to avoid any more injury problems for his already beleaguered back line.
As things stand, the pair are the only fit first-team defenders who are definitely available to the Newcastle United head coach for Saturday’s Premier League game with Chelsea at St James’ Park.
United don’t have much time to recover from their exertions in the Carabao Cup against Fulham on Wednesday night, with Enzo Maresca’s Blues due on Tyneside for Saturday’s 12.30pm kick-off.
It means little chance for any of the injured players to make a recovery, although Howe could have some good news before kick-off.
There’s a chance left-back Lewis Hall couild return after a slight hamstring problem kept him out in midweek, with the England defender playing the full 90 minutes against Sunderland last weekend.
However, fellow full-back Tino Livramento could face another spell out after he injured his knee against Fulham. The 23-year-old was seen applauding the fans after the game with his knee heavily strapped, with Newcastle waiting to see the extent of the damage.
He will join several other defenders on the sidelines, with United hoping Sven Botman can return to the fray soon. The Dutch stopper has had injections in a back problem but has not featured for several weeks now.
Newcastle will have to wait until the new year to see Kieran Trippier back in action, with the ex-England man’s absence with a hamstring strain all the more frustrating given Livramento’s new knock. Likewise, versatile Swedish defender Emil Krafth is expected to be available in early January after recovering from a knee problem.
Dan Burn’s recovery from broken ribs and a punctured lung will take a little longer, with the big defender expected to miss around six weeks following a bruising clash in the derby defeat.
Club captain Jamaal Lascelles is back in training after a spell out of the squad with injury and could be involved soon, but striker Will Osula is still ruled out with an ankle problem and won’t feature until 2026.
One man who could be back soon is goalkeeper Nick Pope. He was expected to be out until Boxing Day with a groin strain, but Howe has indicated the shot-stopper may be back in contention before then.
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has a vast squad to pick from, but still has some injury concerns to deal with this weekend, not least former Newcastle striker target Liam Delap.
The ex-Ipswich man, who chose Chelsea over United back in June, is out with a shoulder injury which is expected to keep him sidelined until the new year.
Young Brazilian winger Estevao will also sit this one out with a muscle problem, but could be back for their home match with Aston Villa on December 27, while England defender Levi Colwill is long-term casualty, having had ACL surgery in the summer.
Midfielder Romeo Lavia’s inury problems continue, as the former Southampton man recovers from a thigh injury, and fellow midfielder Dario Essugo will join him on the sidelines until early January.
Winger Mykhailo Mudryk remains banned after been charged with anti-doping rule violations.
Both United and Chelsea have no players at the African Cup of Nations, with Yoane Wissa not included in the DR Congo squad after his long injury recovery.