Newcastle's injury crisis deepens as Livramento faces scan
Newcastle United's mounting injury list has become a test of the club's resilience, with nine first-team players now sidelined and Tino Livramento facing an anxious wait after a training setback. The 2-1 victory over Hull at St James' Park was hard-fought, but the cost of the win may yet prove heavy.
Manager Matthias Jaissle demanded a response from his players following the humiliating 4-1 defeat at Leeds, and they delivered, with goals from Joe Willock and Lewis Hall securing three precious points. Yet the closing stages were fraught, as a weary side clung on against a spirited Hull outfit.
Speaking after the match, Jaissle said:
“As I said, we wanted to show the right reaction after Leeds and this is something we are very proud of. We wanted to also show a clear reaction in front of ours. Overall, when you see the 90 minutes, it was a deserved win.”
What is the extent of Tino Livramento's injury?
The most worrying development concerns Livramento, who has withdrawn from the England squad for the upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures against Spain, Czechia and Croatia. The right-back felt discomfort in training on Friday and is now scheduled for an MRI scan.
Jaissle confirmed:
“He suffered discomfort after training. He will have an MRI scan but that's all from my side.”
The timing could hardly be worse. With the international break approaching, Newcastle had hoped to use the fortnight to recuperate. Instead, they face an anxious wait on Livramento's prognosis, with the defender's availability for the resumption of Premier League action in doubt.
How many players are Newcastle missing?
The victory over Hull was achieved despite a staggering nine absentees. Alongside Livramento, the club is without Dan Burn, Joelinton, Amar Dedic, Ewen Jaouen, William Osula, Jacob Ramsey, Nico Gonzalez and Anthony Elanga.
Jaissle acknowledged the strain on his squad:
“We were totally dominant and then in the second half you saw the legs were getting tired towards the end, but we were also missing nine players today. I am really proud and I want to show them respect for what they did at the end of the game when it was tough. To defend their own box, everyone was committed and really fighting for the three points. This is something we can count on.”
Is Jaissle satisfied with his first five games?
Reflecting on his opening two months in charge, the German head coach struck a cautiously optimistic tone.
“Overall, really satisfied. You see a couple of challenges already from the outside, and you also know there is a huge transition at the moment in the club. And in these circumstances, we are really proud of what we have seen so far from the lads, fully committed to the journey. Now it is time to reflect and also hopefully get some players back from injury.”
Such pragmatism will be welcomed by supporters who remember the glory days of Sir Bobby Robson and the relentless spirit of the Kevin Keegan era. But the nagging fear remains that this squad, however committed, is being stretched to its limits.
The international break offers a chance to regroup, but it also exposes Newcastle to the whims of fate. With nine players in the treatment room, the depth of the squad will be tested as never before. For Jaissle, the coming weeks will reveal whether his side can endure the grind of a Premier League campaign or whether the cracks will begin to show.
One thing is certain: the Geordie faithful will demand nothing less than full commitment, and on Saturday, they got it. Whether that will be enough when the season resumes remains to be seen.