Newcastle United star will miss both Aston Villa clashes as Eddie Howe confirms yet another injury blow
The latest injury and team news ahead of Aston Villa’s two upcoming fixtures with Newcastle United.
Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe has confirmed an important player will be out for up to two months, meaning he won’t be fit to take on Aston Villa in either upcoming meeting.
The Magpies play host to the Villans in the Premier League on January 25 before Howe’s side head away to Villa Park in the FA Cup fourth round on the weekend of February 14. Even if said player were to recover quicker than expected, it’s highly unlikely he’d be available for either of those fixtures.
Newcastle have had some rotten luck with injuries so far this season, especially in defence. Fabian Schar, Dan Burn, Jamaal Lascelles and Emil Krafth have all been sidelined for a while, for example. The injuries stretch to other areas of the squad, too, as versatile forward William Osula is out with an ankle problem.
Howe confirms Newcastle star out for two months
Howe has now confirmed that full-back Tino Livramento is the latest long-term absentee. The 23-year-old, hopeful of making Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for the upcoming World Cup, sustained a nasty hamstring injury against AFC Bournemouth and a scan result this Tuesday suggested a return in around eight weeks.
“Tino’s information we only got confirmation this morning so we need to digest that and then see what we do,” Howe admitted via Shields Gazette.
Not only will Livramento miss both games against Villa, but he’s also unavailable for two trips to Manchester City, another to Liverpool, Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League and a Premier League visit to Tottenham Hotspur. Livramento’s ability to play at both right-back and left-back has made him a real asset, so he’ll be a huge miss.
Newcastle suffer another injury at inconvenient time
To make matters worse, the Magpies also have a new injury worry following the 2-0 Carabao Cup semi-final first leg defeat to Man City, as Jacob Murphy was forced off. The winger succumbed to the same hamstring problem that he had just returned from after missing Newcastle’s clash with Bournemouth, so perhaps he was rushed back a little too soon.
Murphy, who scored eight goals and provided 12 assists in 35 Premier League appearances last season, has been unable to hit the same heights this campaign. The signing of Anthony Elanga has meant added competition for the right wing position but the main problem has been Murphy struggling to get to peak fitness.
Howe is hopeful that Murphy won’t be out for a while, but there’s a recognition that extra care must be taken to ensure the 30-year-old’s problems go away naturally. “We don’t think Jacob’s injury is serious,” Howe said after the loss to City.
“But of course we’re waiting to see the full extent. He’s had a hamstring problem for a couple of weeks. He’s had two scans that have come back clear so we’re not quite sure what’s going on with him.”