UEFA block Newcastle United defender from playing v Union SG - four players out in total
Newcastle United return to Champions League action against Royale Union Saint-Gilloise on Wednesday evening.
Newcastle United are to be without four senior players for their Champions League clash away to Royale Union Saint-Gilloise on Wednesday.
Eddie Howe’s side opened up their Champions League group phase campaign with a 2-1 defeat to Barcelona at St James’ Park a fortnight ago.
Since then, the Magpies have drawn away to AFC Bournemouth and lost to Arsenal in the Premier League, and beat League One side Bradford City in the third round of the Carabao Cup.
United are now preparing for their first away fixture of this season’s Champions League, with Union SG one of their most favourable fixtures on paper, as the Belgian outfit were also in Pot 4 when the draw was made.
Newcastle United trio ruled out v Union SG through injury
Newcastle remain without new signings Yoane Wissa and Jacob Ramsey with the pair ruled out until after the October international break.
Wissa is yet to make his debut following his £55million move from Brentford after sustaining a knee injury on international duty with the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Ramsey, meanwhile, picked up an ankle injury in the goalless draw at Leeds United, a couple of days before Wissa joined Newcastle.
Howe is set to welcome back two defenders in Fabian Schar and Lewis Hall. Schar has been sidelined for the last 12 days due to a concussion while Hall was left out of the squad for the 2-1 loss against Arsenal on Sunday due to fatigue.
However, United are likely to be without full-back Tino Livramento for the foreseeable after he was stretchered off against the Gunners with a knee issue.
Howe is set to provide a further update on the England international when he speaks to the media ahead of the Union SG match.
UEFA squad rules block Newcastle United from playing v Union SG
Jamaal Lascelles replaced Livramento in the 77th minute, but Howe, as it stands, is unable to call upon his club captain in the Champions League after leaving him out of his 21-man ‘List A’ squad.
UEFA rules allow clubs to submit a ‘List A’ of up to 25 players, if they include four ‘club-trained’ players. But in this instance, the Magpies could only name a squad of 21 due to the lack of club-trained players.
A club-trained player is any player registered with their current club for at least three full seasons between the ages of 15 and 21, regardless of nationality.
Lascelles is the most senior player to be left off the squad list.
Jamaal Lascelles could be named in Champions League squad - on one condition
Lascelles can still be brought into the Champions League squad, though that could depend on the severity of Livramento’s injury.
UEFA Article 31.14 states: “An injury or illness is considered long-term if it lasts at least 60 days as of the day the injury or illness occurred”.
But in order to make the change, UEFA writes: "The club must provide UEFA with the necessary medical evidence in one of UEFA's official languages. Before confirming the replacement, UEFA may require further medical examination of the outfield player by an expert appointed by UEFA at the club's expense.”
It is a loophole that Chelsea and Liverpool have already exercised following long-term injuries for Dario Essugo and Giovanni Leoni, respectively.
UEFA adds: “If the outfield player recovers before the end of this 60-day period, the player remains nonetheless not eligible to participate in any UEFA club competition (i.e. UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League or UEFA Conference League), until the end of such period.”