NEWCASTLE DEFENSIVE CRISIS DEEPENS AS TINO LIVRAMENTO LIMPS OFF DURING WIN OVER FULHAM!
Tino Livramento adds to Newcastle’s defensive injury woes during a 2-1 win over Fulham. Get the latest update on his knee injury.
Newcastle United faced another tough break during their Carabao Cup game against Fulham when Tino Livramento had to leave the field due to injury.
Livramento went down a few times because of a problem with his left knee. He was replaced by Alex Murphy with about 15 minutes left in the game.
This is another piece of bad news for the coach, who already has a number of important players out with injuries. Dan Burn, Emil Krafth, Kieran Trippier, Jamaal Lascelles, and Sven Botman are all currently unable to play.
Because of these absences, the Newcastle coach had to piece together a makeshift defence for the quarter-final match against Fulham. Livramento moved to left-back, and Lewis Miley started on the right side of the defence.
The most recent setback happened in the loss to Sunderland when Dan Burn hurt his ribs.
The ref gave the Sunderland player a caution. Burn tried to keep playing, but he had trouble breathing and had to go to the hospital.
That was a big deal for us, the coach said before the game with Fulham. He's been great in recent weeks.
So, yes, it's a rib issue with some problem with his lungs. We hope he gets better soon. It will probably take about 4-6 weeks.
The defence is a concern for us. We don't have a lot of injuries, but the players who are out all play the same position. Whenever that happens, you're stretched thin. So our defence is looking weak.
The coach added, Emil Krafth and Kieran Trippier are still out, and we think they'll be back around the new year.
There's no sign of Botman coming back from injury either, and the coach isn't willing to say when he might return. He said, We're not really sure when Sven will be back. He's getting better, but he's not ready to play yet.
Newcastle was looking to bounce back against Fulham after a terrible performance, and the coach made six changes to his side.
The coach changed the front three, bringing Yoane Wissa into the side, and he scored on his first start.
The DR Congo international scored from close range after Benjamin Lecomte messed up a cross.
But the lead didn't last long, as Sasa Lukic scored for the visitors just six minutes later. Lewis Miley scored late in added time to give Newcastle a 2-1 lead at the end of the game.
EDDIE HOWE CONFIRMS NEWCASTLE LINEUP SHIFTS ARE PART OF A MAJOR FUTURE STRATEGY
Eddie Howe confirms he is picking Newcastle lineups with next season in mind, trialling players like Ramsey and Woltemade early.
Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe isn’t pretending he’s already thinking about next season. People have been saying Kieran Trippier is close to triggering a payment if he plays more games, so that might influence whether he features again before the season ends. But Howe brushed that off and said he’s making his decisions purely for football reasons.
Talking to reporters at the City Ground about why Anthony Gordon was missing, Howe admitted he’s picking his lineup with the future in mind. Later, in his press conference, he went into more detail about focusing on what comes next at St James’ Park.
"We’re definitely looking ahead," Howe said. "You can see it in some of the choices I’m making with the team. I want to get a look at some players and see how they might grow into the squad."
One of those players is Jacob Ramsey, who came off the bench, set up Harvey Barnes with a great pass, and really changed the game. "I thought Jacob Ramsey was brilliant when he came on against Forest. He really made a difference, and so did Harvey. It’s good to see players taking their chances," Howe said.
He added, "We have to be thinking about the future now and what the team’s going to look like next year. That’s our responsibility at this point."
Before the match, Howe surprised a lot of fans by starting Lewis Hall at right-back, Nick Woltemade in midfield, and pushing Joelinton further forward than usual. Again, Howe explained he wants to see what players can do in different positions.
"It wasn’t some huge change from Brighton; we kept the same shape," Howe said. "But for Nick, this was only one of a few times he’s started in that role for us. He played alongside Will, and they haven’t had much time together either.
"There were positives for Nick, but he wasn’t involved as much as we wanted in the first half. We still need to see his best on the ball. In the second half, though, I thought we got better as a team. We attacked more and looked like a real threat as the match wore on."
MAGPIES EYE £1M BARGAIN TIAGO GABRIEL TO SOLVE GROWING DEFENSIVE INJURY CRISIS
Newcastle are leading the race against Juventus for Tiago Gabriel, the 21-year-old Serie A defensive sensation.
Newcastle United appear to be keeping an eye on Lecce’s young defender Tiago Gabriel as they consider potential options for the summer transfer window.
With Fabian Schar’s contract due to expire at the end of June, the Magpies are preparing for the possibility of his departure. Although an extension is still on the table, Schar has been sidelined since early January because of an ankle injury and doesn't seem close to making a comeback.
At 21, Gabriel has featured 36 times across all competitions this season for Lecce, who are currently four points clear of the Serie A relegation zone. Newcastle’s recruitment team is among those following his development, seemingly interested in exploring a move once the transfer window opens.
Back in December, reports surfaced that both West Ham and Juventus were also tracking Gabriel’s progress. The young defender, who came through Sporting CP’s academy, has had a strong season and will enter the final year of his contract this summer.
Gabriel transferred to Lecce last January for slightly over £1 million, moving from Portuguese club Estrela Amadora. Should he leave this summer, a significantly higher fee might be expected, reflecting his rise in form.
Before joining Estrela Amadora, Gabriel had been part of Setúbal's academy after leaving Sporting in 2020. His performances have earned him regular appearances for Portugal’s Under-21 side, and senior international opportunities may not be far off.
A switch to the Premier League could potentially boost his profile substantially, but he will likely weigh his options with some care.
According to O Jogo, Newcastle continue to monitor his situation keenly as interest around the defender grows.
Regarding Fabian Schar’s future, things remain uncertain even with just weeks left on his current deal. While Kieran Trippier has been publicly confirmed to be leaving upon contract expiration, no similar announcement has come for Schar.
Last week, Howe commented on the defender’s status, noting that no definitive decision has been made yet. He emphasised Schar’s value to the team, pointing out his unique role as a ball-playing defender and his versatility in various defensive setups.
Schar’s influence on the pitch and experience are clearly appreciated, and the club hopes he can regain full fitness before the season concludes. As for any new contract talks, Howe suggested it’s a matter of waiting to see how things unfold.
