Newcastle manager Eddie Howe continues to deal with a long list of injury problems, with a string of players set to miss Saturday’s trip to Fulham in thePremier League.
It has been an injury-plagued season for the Magpies and it was not improved last weekend when the likes of Tino Livramento, Miguel Almiron and Jamaal Lascelles all suffered fitness problems, while Anthony Gordon was sent off.
Kieran Trippier is also sidelined with a calf injury which has proved to be much more serious than first thought.
‘He hasn’t had a setback. With Kieran, he had a calf problem that initially, look, I always try and give you honest feedback on scan results and timeframes, but those timeframes, especially early in the injury, are just that,’ Howe told a press conference.
‘They’re an estimate. Now some injuries, I’m sure people will be frustrated that the manager said it’d be four weeks, but it’s ended up being six, seven or eight, but that’s just the nature of medicine and science. So Kieran will be a little bit longer than we anticipated he would be, purely from the fact he’s had no setback but the injury is just taking long than we first thought.
‘He’s had rescans and he’s been to see different people and we feel this is the best thing for him.’
Howe confirmed that both Livramento and Almiron are out of action this weekend, although neither injury is serious.
‘Tino’s was quite obvious when you look back,’ he said. ‘It was quite strange, the ball has hit his ankle before he’s gone to plant it on the floor and it’s twisted it to an uncomfortable angle. Thankfully it’s not as serious as it could have been and we anticipate he’ll be back quite quickly.
‘Miggy, just crossing the ball, he got his studs caught in the turf and tweaked his knee, not serious but a few weeks.
‘Tino will be around a month but initially when you see a twist like that you fear it will be longer.’
Lascelles’ injury is far worse, already undergoing surgery after rupturing his ACL, which will keep him out for months.
‘It’s a big blow for us and of course for Jamaal,’ said Howe. ‘He’s been excellent this season, behind the scenes he’s been a key part of our leadership team. His standards are exceptional.
‘He’s been in really good physical shape but it’s just one of those things, he’s come together with [Michail] Antonio, taken a bit of his weight and ended up with a serious injury.’
Callum Wilson remains out with a pectoral muscle issue, with Howe saying: ‘He’s looking good, he’s doing the hard yards, running hard. He’s able to keep very fit and build his strength. I anticipate when he comes back he’ll be looking really good.’
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