Newcastle United set to suffer World Cup blow ahead of Bournemouth clash

Newcastle United’s last 16 Carabao Cup clash against Bournemouth is set to be impacted by the FIFA World Cup.

Eddie Howe’s side resume their 2022-23 campaign on Wednesday, December 21 - which takes place just three days after the World Cup final.

Five Magpies stars are currently in Qatar with their respective nations and should any those reach the final, sporting director Dan Ashworth has ruled out a return for the visit of the Cherries.

Bruno Guimaraes’ Brazil, who take on Fabian Schar’s Switzerland this afternoon (kick-off 4pm), are favourites to win the tournament, while Kieran Trippier, Nick Pope and Callum Wilson are bidding to ‘bring football home’ with England.

“Whichever nations get to the final, if we have players playing for that nation, I think it’s unlikely that they’re going to be available for that cup game. It’s a unique season,” Ashworth said. It’s part of the challenge.”

Howe’s squad, excluding those involved at the World Cup, travel to Riyadh on Sunday for a week-long training camp, which includes a friendly against Saudi Pro League champions Al-Hilal.

United then host La Liga outfit Rayo Vallecano at St James’ Park on Saturday, December 17 before taking on Bournemouth for a place in the quarter-finals of the League Cup.

A further blow, however, is players will arrive back on Tyneside in different physical conditions ahead of the second half of the campaign.

Ashworth said: “We’ve front-loaded the season a little bit, so it’s quite an intensive season for all Premier League clubs with more games than there would have been last year.

“So it’s important to give the players a bit of a break, and then it’s back into almost like a mini pre-season, if you like. So it’s back in reconditioning, some games, and getting the players ready. The majority of it will take place at the training ground.

“League One and League Two don’t have a break. Championship do have a break, although it’s less of a break. It’s not too dissimilar to pre-season, so Championship starts a week before us.

“What’s complicating it is that some of the players will be at the World Cup, and you don’t know their return date. So if they get to the final, the return date is a week before the Leicester game.

“If those players get knocked out in the group stages, the return date is week three of our break, so could have players dropping in at that stage. Some of them might have played in three of their games, some of them might not have played a minute of the World Cup. They were part of the squad. They’re coming back in different conditions.”