SUSPENSION RISK: JOELINTON, THIAW, AND BURN ONE YELLOW CARD AWAY FROM MISSING SECOND LEG
Newcastle face Qarabag tonight! Discover why Joelinton, Thiaw, and Burn are one card away from a ban as injury woes mount.
Three Newcastle United players are staring at possible suspensions just as the team gears up for Wednesday’s Champions League play-off first leg against Qarabag. Eddie Howe’s squad, who finished 12th in the league phase, head to Azerbaijan hoping to grab an early advantage and get closer to the last 16.
But they’ll have to do it with a patched-up lineup. Bruno Guimaraes, Yoane Wissa, Sven Botman, Lewis Miley, Tino Livramento, Fabian Schar, and Emil Krafth are all out injured. Some of them might be back soon, but for now, the bench is looking thin. The last thing Newcastle needs is to lose even more players to suspension.
Right now, Joelinton, Malick Thiaw, and Dan Burn are all one yellow card away from missing a game. Three yellows before the quarter-finals means you’re out for a match. Joelinton’s been walking that line since the 4-0 win over Union SG; he picked up bookings in both of Newcastle’s first two group games. Thiaw got his yellows against Benfica and Bayer Leverkusen. Burn was cautioned in the opener at home to Barcelona and again away at Marseille.
With a two-legged tie against Qarabag and a possible two-legged Round of 16 still to come before the slate gets wiped clean, these three and a few others need to get through four more matches without another booking if they want to avoid a Champions League ban.
There are a handful of players sitting on a single yellow as well. Another two yellows before the quarter-final, and they’re suspended too. Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali, Aaron Ramsdale, Joe Willock, Anthony Elanga, and Anthony Gordon have all been booked once so far this season in Europe.
For the Qarabag game, Thiaw and Burn are set to start at centre-back since Botman and Schar are both still out. In midfield, Joelinton could slot in with Guimaraes and Miley sidelined.
After missing the last six matches, including Saturday’s win at Aston Villa, Joelinton is finally back, and Howe confirmed he’ll be involved against Qarabag.
“Joelinton’s back in the squad, so that’s a great boost for us,” Howe said before the match. “He’s such an important player, a big presence, a real leader. He trained yesterday and looked really good, so we’re delighted to have him back. No one else from the injury list has travelled from the last game, so we’re still missing quite a few, and some of them are real quality players.
“They’re big losses, but our spirits are high after our last two games. We’ll put out the strongest team we can because this game is massive for us. We’re not looking ahead to the schedule; this one matters on its own.”
NEWCASTLE SUBMIT £21M OPENING OFFER FOR PALMEIRAS SENSATION EDUARDO CONCEICAO
Newcastle United launch a bid for Palmeiras star Eduardo Conceicao as Eddie Howe’s future hits a "seven-game test."
Newcastle United have put in an offer for a “superb” young forward, and they’re not the only ones circling. Premier League teams are watching, including leaders Arsenal.
Last season, Eddie Howe brought Newcastle their first trophy in 70 years. But things haven’t exactly gone according to plan since then. The team’s sitting 12th in the league, out of all the cup competitions, and Howe’s future suddenly looks shaky.
Now, after a pretty intense meeting with chief executive David Hopkinson, obvious questions are hanging in the air. Hopkinson didn’t say much to clear things up, either. “I don’t have a stance on his [Howe’s] future,” he said. “The derby loss hurt. We take it seriously. There’s nothing in us that thinks: ‘Well, it’s just three points and on we go.’ It has resonated. I spent a couple of hours in a one-on-one lunch with Eddie, and we talked through a multitude of things, including Sunderland.” So, yeah, definitely not the most reassuring words.
Still, despite all the uncertainty around the manager, Newcastle are working on summer transfers as usual. Behind the scenes, they’ve made a move for a talented new forward.
According to a report from RTI Esporte (via Sport Witness), Newcastle have now made a bid for Palmeiras forward Eduardo Conceicao. Arsenal are interested too, but Newcastle apparently want to move first.
Palmeiras want at least £34 million for the 16-year-old, which is huge considering his age, though his contract does have a massive €100 million (£86 million) release clause. Clearly, people rate him highly. Scout Jacek Kulig talked him up recently on social media, pointing out the strengths that make him stand out.
So far, Conceicao has impressed with Palmeiras U20s five goals and three assists in just 13 appearances. Doing that at 16 is no joke. But let’s be real, he hasn’t played for the senior team yet, so it might take some time before he’s ready to shine in the Premier League, whether that’s at Newcastle or somewhere else.
SIMON JORDAN QUESTIONS IF CEO DAVID HOPKINSON ACTUALLY CONTROLS EDDIE HOWE'S FATE
Newcastle CEO David Hopkinson refuses to guarantee Eddie Howe’s future following a devastating Tyne-Wear derby loss.
Earlier this week, Newcastle United’s CEO, David Hopkinson, spoke about Eddie Howe’s future at St. James'. James' Park. Howe took over after Steve Bruce left in November 2021 and quickly turned things around. Thanks in part to a solid January transfer window, he helped Newcastle avoid relegation. By his first full season, the team surprised many by finishing in the Premier League’s top four, securing Champions League football, and reaching their first major cup final since 1999, although they fell 2-0 to Manchester United in the Carabao Cup final.
Howe also brought some silverware to Newcastle, ending a 70-year wait for major domestic trophies with a Carabao Cup win over Liverpool last season. Given these achievements and another Champions League qualification, his job seemed safe. But in a recent press briefing, Hopkinson was noticeably less forthcoming about Howe’s long-term role at the club.
This contrasts with Hopkinson’s earlier statements, especially on talkSPORT in February, where he expressed strong backing for Howe, praising his work and noting how admired he is across the league and even the national team setup. Back then, Hopkinson said, “Eddie’s our manager and an extraordinary one. Many clubs envy what he’s doing, and he has our full support.”
However, after Newcastle suffered a defeat to Sunderland in the Tyne-Wear derby, dropping into the bottom half of the table and facing a tough path to secure European football again, Hopkinson’s tone shifted. He told The Gazette, “I don’t have a stance on his future right now." The derby loss really hurt us. We take that seriously. I had a detailed conversation with Eddie recently about many things, including that defeat. Eddie is our manager, and I expect a strong finish to the season. We’ll discuss the future when the time comes. Our focus remains on this season’s competition.”
These remarks sparked some unease among fans, fueling speculation that Howe might be nearing the end of his time at Newcastle. Yet, talkSPORT pundit Simon Jordan criticised Hopkinson’s cautious approach. He suggested the CEO could be stuck in a tricky spot, pressured to clarify his position given his previous praise and the club’s ambitions.
Jordan questioned who actually holds the power to hire or fire managers, whether that falls solely to Hopkinson or if ownership plays the deciding role. He pondered how much football expertise the CEO really brings and wondered if Hopkinson’s silence could be a sign of uncertainty rather than strength. Jordan noted, “Not having a stance on your manager isn’t the right way to put it. Perhaps it’s more about not wanting to discuss his future publicly yet, but that just leads to more speculation.” He argued that whatever Hopkinson says now will draw criticism, either highlighting the team’s struggles if Howe is backed fully or fueling rumours if there’s hesitation.
In the end, Jordan advised that the focus should be on explaining the club’s broader vision rather than getting caught up in these short-term debates. He pointed out that while Howe is capable, Newcastle’s challenges aren’t just about the manager but about bigger structural issues the club faces as it aims to compete at the highest level.
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