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.
BRUNO GUIMARAES REJUVENATES IN BRAZIL FOLLOWING HIGH STAKES NEWCASTLE EUROPEAN STALEMATE
Bruno Guimaraes reacts to Newcastle’s dramatic 1-1 draw with Barcelona while confirming he will miss the return leg.
Bruno Guimaraes has shared his thoughts after Newcastle United’s dramatic Champions League draw with Barcelona.
For a while, it looked like the Magpies would head to the Camp Nou next Wednesday with a narrow 1-0 lead, thanks to Harvey Barnes’ late strike in the 86th minute.
Then, things got wild. Four minutes of stoppage time went up, but in the fifth, referee Marco Guida pointed to the spot after Dani Olmo tumbled a little too easily from Malick Thiaw’s touch. Lamine Yamal, who Lewis Hall had kept quiet all night, stepped up and buried the penalty with the very last kick of the game.
It was a gut punch for Newcastle. Still, they looked a lot sharper than the last time they faced Barcelona back in September, when they lost 2-1 in the group stage.
Back then, Guimaraes wore the captain’s armband, but this time he had to watch from afar. He’s recovering from a hamstring injury in Brazil, stuck on the sidelines but still cheering his teammates on.
After the match, Guimaraes posted on Instagram: “Tremendous effort from the boys; couldn’t ask for more! Very unlucky in the end. We go again next week.”
As for his injury, Guimaraes will miss next week’s return leg in Barcelona, plus the Tyne-Wear derby against Sunderland four days later. He’s also set to sit out Brazil’s friendlies against France and Croatia. The hope is he’ll be ready after the international break, when Newcastle head to Crystal Palace on April 11.
Manager Eddie Howe summed things up: “I think the time frame is what it is; there’s no miracle cure for him. We’re looking at the end of the international break in March for his return. It’s a big blow for us at a key time. He’s gutted, but we can’t change it. We just have to get him back safely, and others need to step up while he’s out.
“We’ll miss everything he brings. He’s scored, created, and controlled games for us he’s just a special player. Losing him is tough, but there’s always a way forward, and it’s a chance for others to show what they can do.”
It’s now been a month since Guimarães last played he limped off late against Tottenham after helping Newcastle grab a 2-1 win. Sitting out is something new for him; before this, he’d barely missed a game.
When he found out how long he’d be out, Guimaraes wrote: “For the first time in 10 years of my career, I have to spend some time away from the pitch. I’m really sad about it, but I trust that God knows best. This muscle injury will keep me out for a few weeks, but I believe it’ll make me stronger and more prepared for what’s ahead. Thank you all for the support, messages, and concern. See you soon.”
PRESSURE PEAK: EDDIE HOWE REJECTS EXCUSES AS NEWCASTLE FACE A SEASON-DEFINING MARCH STRETCH
Eddie Howe is fighting back: Read why the Newcastle boss rejects schedule excuses and how the Magpies plan to stun Barcelona.
Eddie Howe isn’t having any of the usual excuses about a packed schedule if Newcastle’s 2025/26 season fizzles out. Right now, that’s pretty close to what’s happening in the Premier League.
Meanwhile, over on Warwick Street in Heaton, the road’s shut after a crash.
Newcastle’s been busy in Barcelona away, with big FA Cup ties against Man City. Sure, those sound exciting, but if the cup runs end early (and most bookies seem to think they will), Newcastle faces an uphill battle to save their league campaign.
If they weren’t in the cup competitions, people would probably accuse the team of checking out early, already thinking about the summer holidays. The season could still end in glory, but if they’re not careful, they’ll slip into the bottom half of the table.
Howe isn’t sugarcoating the pressure. “I hate calling anything impossible,” he said. “That just hands everyone an excuse. Yeah, it’s tough. Our schedule this year makes the one from two years ago look like a breeze.
“It’s really stretched the players’ fitness, our resources, our energy, everything. No doubt, some guys have gone into games running on empty.
“I know we’re a good side. We’ve made progress. But sometimes it feels like just when we’re moving forward, we get knocked back.”
Howe’s not thrilled about the recent run of five losses in six. “A blip like this doesn’t feel normal. It hurts. We’re always trying to give the fans what they want, and lately, we just haven’t.”
Still, a couple of years ago, Newcastle would’ve jumped at the chance to play this kind of schedule. Up next: Man United, Man City in the FA Cup, Barcelona, Chelsea, and a trip to the Nou Camp. Sunderland rounds out March, a stretch that could shape not just this season but the future of St James’ Park.
How’s the message? “You look at the fixtures; you’ve got to stay positive. We have to enjoy these games. Can’t play scared.
“We have to go after them, stay aggressive, and keep our heads up.
“A few years back, if you’d told us these were our next matches, we’d have bitten your hand off for it. Well, here we are.
“So let’s not look back. Eyes forward.”
