Newcastle United injury list & return dates ahead of Sunderland - Nick Pope, Kieran Trippier & Sven Botman

It’s a big week for Newcastle United across three different competitions.

On Wednesday evening, the Magpies face Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League knowing a victory will all but guarantee a place in the knockout stages with two games to spare.

Sunday sees the return of the Tyne-Wear derby, with United travelling to the Stadium of Light to take on Sunderland before a few days later welcoming Fulham to St James’ Park with a place in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup up for grabs.

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has called it a squad game as they enter a busy and important period. Will Howe be able to welcome back any of his injured players during the upcoming period?

Here’s a look at Newcastle’s injury list and return dates.

Nick Pope

There were calls to drop Pope after his mistake in Marseille but ultimately the decision was made for Howe when the 33-year-old picked up a groin injury on the eve of Newcastle’s 4-1 win at Everton.

What’s Eddie Howe said?

Speaking last week, Howe said: “Yeah, slightly unknown at the moment. Not a serious injury, not a long-term one, but enough to keep him out for probably the next two to three weeks. Probably looking at around Christmas time again for him.

“I think we've got a sort of a group of players looking at that around Christmas return. If we can shave a bit of time off that and he can come back earlier, then great. But that's the plan at the moment.”

Expected return date

Manchester United (A), 26/12.

Kieran Trippier

Trippier sustained a hamstring injury in training on the eve of Newcastle’s 2-1 win against Manchester City.

What’s Eddie Howe said?

Howe said on Friday: “I think they [Trippier and Emil Krafth] won’t be back sort of any time soon. In a sense of the next few games, anyway. We hope to get them back towards the Christmas period.”

On his injury, Trippier said: “My recovery from injury is going well. It was an unfortunate one, I was in training taking a set piece and there’s nothing you can do - it’s out of my control. All I can do is focus on getting fit as quickly as possible, but respectfully in the right way.

“These things happen and I’ve been in this position before. I’m old enough to understand and be professional in the way I handle my rehab and I’ll be back soon.”

Expected return date

Manchester United (A), 26/12.

Emil Krafth

Krafth picked up on a knee injury on international duty with Sweden last month.

What’s Eddie Howe?

Howe said on Friday: “I think they [Trippier and Emil Krafth] won’t be back sort of any time soon. In a sense of the next few games, anyway. We hope to get them back towards the Christmas period.”

Expected return date

Manchester United (A), 26/12.

Sven Botman

Botman has recently had an injection to help solve his back issue. The Dutchman has missed the last matches against Everton, Tottenham Hotspur and Burnley.

What’s Eddie Howe said?

Speaking ahead of the Burnley win, Howe said: “Sven has had, I believe, an injection in his back, I haven't actually seen him personally since the Tottenham game.

“I think he's had an injection, and we hope that that will bring about his return quite quickly, but now I think there's a time period for his injection to work, which I think is around about a week, and then we'll see how he is.”

Expected return date

Sunderland (A) 15/12.

Will Osula

Osula withdrew from the matchday squad for the 2-0 victory over Athletic Club last month and hasn’t been involved since.

What’s Eddie Howe said?

Howe said last week: “We need to have further discussions internally to see quite what's happening with his ankle because it's not going in a straight line. We're not quite happy with how he's feeling, so I'll try and give you some feedback when we get it.”

Expected return date

TBC

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