Sven Botman, Bruno Guimaraes, Will Osula: Newcastle United injury list & expected return dates
Newcastle United injuries: Eddie Howe will be without a few players for the trip to Bristol City this week.
Newcastle United are still some way off being full strength this pre-season as they prepare to visit Bristol City in their second public pre-season friendly on Wednesday evening (7:30pm kick-off).
The Magpies were without a number of first-team players for the 1-1 draw at Gateshead on Saturday afternoon. Fabian Schar returned from injury after seven months out but Lewis Miley, Joelinton and Tino Livramento remained sidelined.
William Osula and Sven Botman were also unavailable due to injury despite playing the training ground friendly against Darlington the week prior.
United also have several players on delayed returns following their involvement at the 2026 World Cup.
As Newcastle prepare for the trip to Bristol, here is a list of the current unavailable players and their expected return dates...
Joelinton - thigh
Joelinton missed the final matches of last season due to a thigh injury and has missed the opening two matches of pre-season as he continues his recovery.
Wednesday’s match could come too soon for him but he is expected to join up with the squad for the La Manga training camp.
Expected return date: Valencia (A) - 08/08
William Osula - groin
William Osula started pre-season as Newcastle’s only senior striker with Yoane Wissa and Nick Woltemade given an extended break due to their World Cup involvement.
He scored in a 3-0 training ground win over Darlington but missed the draw at Gateshead due to a tight groin. He will be assessed ahead of the trip to Bristol City but is expected to at least make the trip to Spain.
Expected return date: Valencia (A) - 08/08
Sven Botman - face
Sven Botman suffered a facial injury in training, which ruled him out of the Gateshead match on Saturday. The defender previously suffered a facial fracture that saw him require surgery and wear a protective mask during the back end of last season.
Eddie Howe claims he will be back available for the trip to Spain, if not sooner.
Expected return date: Valencia (A) - 08/08
Tino Livramento - calf
Tino Livramento suffered a calf injury while training with England ahead of the 2026 World Cup. The injury required surgery and saw the defender miss the tournament.
He is now stepping up his recovery in pre-season but is still thought to be weeks away from a return. Head coach Eddie Howe hinted that the defender would not make the trip to Spain but could be back before the start of the season.
Expected return date: Late August 2026
Lewis Miley - leg
Lewis Miley suffered a broken fibula at the back end of last season which ultimately brought an impressive campaign on an individual level to a premature end. Miley, like Livramento and Schar, has suffered with injuries since the turn of the year and has had limited first-team football after establishing himself as a key player in Eddie Howe’s side.
He was still on crutches last month but is now back running on the grass at the training ground as he steps up his recovery, pushing to return in time for the start of the new season. He is expected to make the trip to La Manga, but it’s unclear whether he will have any match involvement.
Expected return date: Bayer Leverkusen/Strasbourg (H) - 15/08 or 16/08
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Nick Woltemade - international break
Nick Woltemade spent a month away with Germany at the World Cup as they were knocked out on penalties by Paraguay in the last-32. His only minutes of football at the tournament came in the Paraguay game as he missed from the spot in the decisive shootout.
Woltemade has returned to Newcastle for pre-season training this week and will be assessed ahead of the trip to Bristol.
Expected return date: Bristol City (A) - 29/07
Malick Thiaw - international break
Like Woltemade, Malick Thiaw was also limited to a small role in Germany’s World Cup squad. The defender made just two substitute appearances at the tournament.
After playing 54 times for Newcastle last season, Thiaw has had a deserved break before returning for pre-season this week.
Expected return date: Bristol City (A) - 29/07
Bazoumana Toure - international break
New signing Bazoumana Toure represented Ivory Coast at the World Cup this summer meanining he will have to wait before finally joining up with his new teammates.
As he’s a new signing, there will be a willingness to get him working on the training pitch sooner rather than later.
Expected return date: Bristol City (A) - 29/07
Anthony Elanga - international break
Anthony Elanga played an important role in Sweden’s World Cup campaign with two goals, including a crucial equaliser against Japan to secure progress to the last-32.
Sweden were ultimately beaten by eventual semi-finalists France, but Elanga enjoyed a strong tournament on an individual level. He is back in full training this week after making a brief appearance earlier this month.
Expected return date: Bristol City (A) - 29/07
Yoane Wissa - international break
Yoane Wissa experienced a historic World Cup, scoring DR Congo’s first-ever goal in the competition in a 1-1 draw with Portugal. He went on to score a further two goals in the group stage before being knocked out by England in the last-32.
Like Elanga, he’ll be hoping his promising World Cup can translate back to club level this coming season.
Expected return date: Bristol City (A) - 29/07
Bruno Guimaraes - international break
Bruno Guimaraes played a key role in Brazil’s journey to the last-16 of the World Cup before his penalty miss against Norway proved crucial in a 2-1 defeat.
The Newcastle captain has also found himself at the centre of a transfer saga and has been heavily linked with a move away from the club, having also expressed his desire to leave. He is expected to report back at the end of the month for the trip to La Manga. Should he make the trip he will likely play in the friendly against Valencia.
Expected return date: Valencia (A) - 08/08
Dan Burn - international break
Dan Burn had a World Cup to remember as he made three substitute appearances at the tournament, playing a role in two key knockout round wins over Mexico and Norway.
While England were ultimately undone by Argentina in the semi-final, they were able to end the tournament on a high with a 6-4 win over France to secure a first ever third-place finish at the tournament.
Burn’s extended spell away with England will delay his return to Newcastle for pre-season training.
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