'Reliable' Newcastle United player suffering with knee injury - 'no definitive return date'
Newcastle United currently have five senior defenders unavailable.
Dan Burn is the closest defender to returning for Newcastle United, while there is currently no return date for Emil Krafth.
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The Magpies are in the midst of an injury crisis with just four senior defenders available for the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg clash at home to Manchester City.
Already without Emil Krafth, Jamaal Lascelles and Burn, Newcastle suffered a double blow last week after Fabian Schar and Tino Livramento sustained nasty-looking injuries.
Schar was stretchered off during the 4-3 comeback win over Leeds United and is expected to be sidelined for a sustained period due to ankle ligament damage.
A few days later, Livramento then limped out of the FA Cup penalty shootout win against AFC Bournemouth, leaving Kieran Trippier, Malick Thiaw, Sven Botman and Lewis Hall as the only fit senior defenders.
Newcastle United are a ‘couple of weeks’ away from injury boost
And Newcastle will have to tread carefully with the quartet, with Eddie Howe still a couple of weeks away from welcoming a defender back from injury.
Burn is due back before the end of the month but there is uncertainty surrounding Krafth and Lascelles, while the Magpies’ medical team are still assessing Schar and Livramento’s injuries.
Newcastle United issue Emil Krafth official update
Krafth hasn’t featured for the Magpies since November after picking up a knee injury on international duty with Sweden.
It was initially thought that the 31-year-old would return in and around the New Year but as it stands hasn’t got a definitive return date.
“He's a big miss for us at the moment,” Howe said on Monday. “No, there's no major update. He's trying to come back from a knee problem. He's not feeling absolutely at his best currently. Day-to-day, he feels slightly different, so, I've got no definitive return date for him.
“We're taking it day-by-day, hoping that he can improve and we can see him back very quickly. He's always been such a reliable performer for us. As you say, you're quite right, different positions, he gives the versatility that we need.
“So, we're desperate for him back. But we'll just have to wait and see how long that takes.”
Jamaal Lascelles likely to leave Newcastle United in January
Lascelles isn’t currently training with Newcastle, with an exit from the club a strong possibility this month.
The 32-year-old has made 253 appearances for the Magpies since joining from Nottingham Forest a decade ago but only two of those have come this season, both of which were substitute appearances against AFC Bournemouth and Arsenal in September.
The former Toon skipper is out of contract at the end of the season and has previously attracted interest from clubs in Turkey.
“He's not training with us currently,” Howe last week. “He hasn't felt well enough physically to train... good enough. I don't necessarily think that he's injured in the sense that he's got one big injury, I just think his body's not feeling great.
“So he's not training with us currently. We hope that will change in the next few weeks.
“But yeah, there's a possibility that he could leave as well. Jamaal's been an incredible servant. He's a great leader for us behind the scenes. So, let's wait and see what happens on his future.”