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.”
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.”
THE WOLTEMADE MYSTERY: WHY DID EDDIE HOWE PULL HIM AFTER ONLY 25 MINUTES?
Newcastle 3-2 Everton: Read Eddie Howe’s reaction to Nick Woltemade’s 14-touch nightmare and the 12-point Champions League gap.
Eddie Howe didn’t hide his frustration after Newcastle’s rough 3-2 loss to Everton. He admitted they just couldn’t get Nick Woltemade involved; he barely touched the ball before Howe pulled him off after only 25 minutes up front.
Woltemade, the club’s £69 million signing, started in midfield, but it just didn’t click. He got shifted into attack in the second half, but that didn’t work either. After just 14 touches, Howe went back to Anthony Gordon leading the line.
Asked about Woltemade’s quiet night, Howe told Chronicle Live, “We moved things around trying to find a spark. Honestly, we didn’t start well and gave up an early goal. The guys needed new energy, especially after halftime, which was our best spell. But with Nick, we just couldn’t get him on the ball enough, even after moving him up front. He wasn’t getting touches or really getting involved near the goal. That’s why I had to make those changes.”
Now Newcastle’s Premier League season is in real trouble. They’re 12 points off the Champions League spots and fighting just to reach the Europa Conference League unless they pull off something big in the FA Cup or Champions League.
Howe owned up to the team’s slump. “Yeah, in the Premier League, our form just hasn’t been good enough for a while. We know it, and we take responsibility. It’s really frustrating. That’s part of playing in Europe, but we’ve tried to go all-in on every game and treat them all as important. With so many games, though, focus slips. Our league results lately just haven’t been anywhere near what they used to be. Home form used to be so reliable, but that’s dropped off too. We need to get that back fast. St James’ Park should be where we collect the most points, the place where players feel free to play. Lately, that just hasn’t happened.”
Howe even ended up taking Gordon off, which didn’t go over well; some boos rang out after Gordon lost the ball and Everton scored the winner.
“I honestly didn’t notice that,” Howe said, about the crowd’s reaction. “But when that happens, we’ve got to stick together. I’ll back him, and I hope the fans do too.”
