Lewis Hall 'problem' as Newcastle United duo ruled out until Christmas
Newcastle United know they must protect Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall ahead of the busy fixture period.
Newcastle United remain light at full-back as they enter a busy period of fixtures.
The Magpies have recently welcomed back Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall from injury, but their returns have coincided with the loss of Kieran Trippier and Emil Krafth.
Having Trippier or Krafth available gives Eddie Howe the option to rest Livramento at right-back or rest Hall by moving Livramento over to left-back. Dan Burn can also play left-back, but his main position is centre-half.
Newcastle United remain light at full-back - no respite for Livramento & Hall
Trippier picked up a hamstring injury on the eve of United’s 2-1 win over Manchester City, while Krafth sustained a knee injury on international duty with Sweden. The duo have sat out of the last four games.
And unfortunately for Howe, neither player is expected to return until closer to the Christmas period, providing little respite for Livramento and Hall, who have established themselves as two of the team’s key performers.
Howe said: “Yeah, Tino's okay I think, he's done really well. Tough for him because he's straight back in and playing a lot of minutes but we don't have any other options in that position currently with Emil and Kieran out and I think they won't be back any time soon, in a sense the next few games anyway.
“We hope to get them back towards the Christmas period. It would be nice if we could because it would alleviate some of the burden on Tino but he's shouldering it really well as is Lewis and hopefully that can stay the case.”
Eddie Howe highlights Lewis Hall ‘problem’
Livramento has started four of four matches since returning from two months out with a knee issue, while Hall started three out of four after dropping to the bench for the Champions League clash in Marseille.
Howe heaped praise on Hall’s performances, believing the only “problem” is that the former Chelsea academy graduate is tiring late in games.
“I think he's done really, really well,” Howe said. “I think the only problem for Lewis is late in games when he's started to fatigue.
“I'd say in the first half of the Everton game, the Tottenham game, Manchester City, the same, I think he's been outstanding. I think he's really shown his qualities.
“He brings a different dynamic from that position to other players that we have, a real technical, high-level technical player but also athletically he gets forward and combines really well with the players ahead of him.
“I think he can be really pleased but we just have to navigate this next period well because we want him to remain on the pitch and to do that, we're going to have to be careful with him because we've got so many games and he's so important.”
Newcastle host Burnley at St James’ Park this afternoon and travel to Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday before next weekend’s Tyne-Wear derby away to Sunderland.