Newcastle United face Borussia Dortmund in tonight’s crunch Champions League clash at the Signal Iduna Park without TWELVE senior players.
Injuries have ripped through the Magpies’ squad in recent weeks with Dan Burn, Jacob Murphy and Matt Targett the latest long-term casualties.
Howe revealed during his pre-match press conference Burn was facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines after picking up a bad injury in Saturday’s 1-0 win over Arsenal.
And in the same game, Murphy’s shoulder popped out again, just under a fortnight after he dislocated it in the opening game against Dortmund.
Murphy will undergo surgery and spend up to three months out, as will Targett, who sustained a hamstring injury during last week’s 3-0 win at Manchester United in the Carabao Cup.
Existing injuries to Alexander Isak, Harvey Barnes, Sven Botman, Elliot Anderson and Javier Manquillo, plus the suspended Sandro Tonali and the ineligible Matt Ritchie, Emil Krafth and Mark Gillespie means United have just 16 senior players available for Dortmund,
Under-21s players Lucas de Bolle and Ben Parkinson have been called into the matchday squad.
“You just see who’s fit and available. We’ve added a couple of younger players to the squad but we’ll go with that, that’s all we can do,” Howe told NewcastleWorld.
“You always get injuries but the problem with us is a lot of the injuries we’ve got currently are longer-term which means there is no relief coming around the corner which then leaves every game you play in a dangerous position.
“We wouldn’t have it any other way. We’ve really enjoyed the game we’ve had but they’ve come at a cost recently with injuries you can’t prepare for. Dan [Burn], again, went up for a header and fell on his back, that could happen at any moment but unfortunately for us, it’s come at the wrong time.”
With that in mind, does Howe’s team pick itself, or could there be a few surprises? Here’s our Newcastle United are predicted to line-up:
1. Newcastle's English coach Eddie Howe addresses a press conference in Dortmund, western Germany on November 6, 2023, on the eve of the UEFA Champions League Group F football match against Borussia Dortmund. (Photo by Ina FASSBENDER / AFP) (Photo by INA FASSBENDER/AFP via Getty Images)
2. GK: Nick Pope
Pope has kept six clean sheets in all competitions this season.
3. RB: Tino Livramento (in for Dan Burn)
Livramento replaced the injured Dan Burn at half-time on Saturday.
4. CB: Jamaal Lascelles
Continues to perform well in Sven Botman’s absence.