Newcastle United star set to miss Liverpool clash after injury - eight already ruled out

Newcastle United hope to have Jamaal Lascelles back soon after he missed the 3-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest at St James' Park on Boxing Day.

The Magpies' captain was forced to withdraw just 37 minutes into the weekend's loss at Luton Town. Lascelles dropped out of the matchday squad for the visit of his former club as Chris Wood's hat-trick condemned United to a sixth defeat in seven matches.

Sven Botman's return could mean that Lascelles faces a difficult task of getting back into the starting XI but the 30-year-old isn't expected to be in the treatment room for too long. Asked if Lascelles' injury was long-term, Eddie Howe replied: "No, we don't think so."

Although Lascelles' injury isn't long-term, the centre-back is likely to miss the New Year's Day trip to Liverpool after Howe said he is expecting no injured players to return.

As well as Lascelles, United are set to be without nine first-team players - Sandro Tonali, Nick Pope, Jacob Murphy, Harvey Barnes, Joe Willock, Elliot Anderson, Javier Manquillo and Matt Targett.

Those players available will be tasked with turning around the club's form. In the last fortnight, United have exited both the Champions League & Carabao Cup, and slipped to eighth in the Premier League table.

Howe added: "My gut feeling is always that the answer relies within. The players we have here, I think we're good enough. Of course, we've suffered the injuries we've had and those players you see aren't available... I don't think anyone is coming back in the next few days.

"It was really good that we had Joelinton return today, he's been a massive miss for us, and we've still got players that are finding there fitness from playing matches, which is never ideal. And there was several players on the pitch today in that respect.

"We've not had it easy and I think that needs to be acknowledged by me more than anyone else in my reflection of the team."