Newcastle United get major injury news just hours before kick-off v Crystal Palace
Newcastle United have been boosted by the return of three players for their Premier League match against Crystal Palace.
Newcastle United have been handed a triple injury boost for this afternoon’s Premier League clash at home to Crystal Palace (kick-off 3pm).
The Magpies have played the last four matches with just three senior defenders, but that has doubled in numbers for the visit of Palace.
Eddie Howe’s side recorded only their second Premier League away win of the season in midweek and are now hoping to follow that up with back-to-back home wins over Palace and Leeds United.
Newcastle head into the Palace match 14th in the Premier League table but can move up to as high as 7th with three points.
Newcastle United triple injury boost v Crystal Palace
Eddie Howe remains without Emil Krafth, Jamaal Lascelles and Dan Burn but welcomes back Tino Livramento, Kieran Trippier and Sven Botman into the matchday squad. It comes after the Newcastle boss hint at the trio’s return during Friday’s pre-match press conference.
Livramento is back after three games out with a knee issue, while Trippier and Botman return after eight weeks and five weeks out, respectively.
“We've got a couple of training days, but Tino and Kieran have worked really well,” said Howe. “They've had proper recovery periods, so they're both close.
In the absence of both players, midfielder Lewis Miley has played out of position at right-back.
“I’ve said time and again how well he's done in a position that he's not played before,” Howe said on Miley. “Again, against Burnley, I thought he was magnificent for us, but we'd love to get our full-backs back, fit and available, and boost the squad really in terms of numbers.
“We've been very thin on the ground for defenders, so that would be a big area.”
Newcastle, however, are still without Will Osula and £55million summer signing Anthony Elanga, though the latter is understood to be nearing a return.
“They're close, yeah,” Howe said on Botman and Elanga. “They're both very close. Sven's been training with the group which has been great so envisaged that he will be in and around this game. Anthony hasn't trained with us yet but is very close to doing so.”
Newcastle United confirmed starting XI v Crystal Palace
Howe has made just one change from the 3-1 win at Burnley, with Jacob Murphy brought in for Harvey Barnes on the right wing. Meanwhile, Yoane Wissa is preferred to Nick Woltemade up top.
Newcastle United: Nick Pope, Lewis Hall, Fabian Schär, Joelinton, Sandro Tonali, Yoane Wissa, Anthony Gordon, Malick Thiaw, Jacob Murphy, Bruno Guimaraes (c), Lewis Miley
Substitutes: Aaron Ramsdale, Kieran Trippier, Sven Botman, Harvey Barnes, Tino Livramento, Nick Woltemade, Joe Willock, Alex Murphy, Jacob Ramsey.