As Newcastle United packs its bags for a trip to Belgium, the excitement of a Champions League away day is mixed with a familiar sense of frustration.
The team is preparing to face Royale Union Saint-Gilloise on Wednesday evening, a match that represents a crucial opportunity to get their European campaign back on track after an opening day defeat to Barcelona.
But as the players get ready, the manager Eddie Howe is once again having to piece together a lineup from a squad that is being stretched thinner by the week. The injury list, a problem that has plagued the team since the season began, continues to cast a long shadow over their preparations.
The treatment room at the training ground is unfortunately a busy place. The club will definitely be without two of its major summer signings for this fixture.
Yoane Wissa, the forward who arrived with much fanfare from Brentford, is still waiting to make his debut after suffering a knee injury while on international duty.
He is not expected back until after the next international break in October. Joining him on the sidelines is fellow new signing Jacob Ramsey, who picked up an ankle problem in the hard-fought draw at Leeds United.
The absence of these two attacking players limits Howe’s options significantly as he looks to find a winning formula away from home.
There is, however, a small glimmer of good news on the injury front. Two key defenders are set to return to the squad. The experienced Fabian Schar is available again after following concussion protocols, and his composure on the ball will be a welcome boost.
Also back is Lewis Hall, who was simply rested due to fatigue against Arsenal. Their returns will help shore up a defensive line that has actually been the team’s strongest asset this season.
But just as two players come back, another worrying issue has emerged. The young full-back Tino Livramento, who has been so impressive, was stretchered off in the last match with a knee injury.
The club is waiting for scan results, but the early signs suggest he could be facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines. Howe is expected to give a more detailed update in his pre-match press conference, and everyone connected with the club will be hoping for positive news.
Yet, for this specific Champions League match, there is another, more complicated problem that has nothing to do with fitness.
It involves the club captain, Jamaal Lascelles. In the recent Premier League game, it was Lascelles who came off the bench to replace the injured Livramento.
For the trip to Belgium, however, Howe finds himself in a difficult position. Due to strict UEFA squad registration rules, Lascelles is currently not eligible to play in the Champions League.
The rules state that clubs can name a 25-man “List A” squad, but only if they include four players who were trained at the club for at least three years between the ages of 15 and 21.
Like many top-flight clubs, Newcastle does not have enough of these “club-trained” players, so they were forced to submit a smaller squad of just 21 players. Lascelles was the most high-profile casualty of this administrative headache, left out of the initial list to make room for others.
This creates a real tactical headache for the manager. The player who is the natural replacement for the injured Livramento is not allowed to play in the competition.
It feels like a cruel twist of fate. But there might be a way out, a small loophole in the regulations that could offer a solution. UEFA rules allow for a squad change if a player suffers a long-term injury.
The rule, known as Article 31.14, defines a long-term injury as one that is expected to last for at least 60 days from the moment it occurred. If Livramento’s injury is confirmed to be that severe, Newcastle could apply to UEFA to have him replaced in the squad by Lascelles.
This process isn’t automatic. The club would have to provide detailed medical evidence, and UEFA even reserves the right to have the injured player examined by its own independent specialist, all at the club’s expense.
It’s a path that other clubs like Chelsea and Liverpool have already gone down this season for their own injured players. Of course, this is a scenario nobody wants, as it would mean accepting that Livramento is out for two months or more.
It’s a difficult decision that pits immediate squad needs against the long-term wellbeing of a talented young player.
So, as Newcastle lands in Belgium, the focus is split. On one hand, there is a vital football match to be won against a team they will be expected to beat.
On the other, there are complex administrative puzzles to solve and anxious waits for medical news. It’s a vivid illustration of the challenges that come with a return to the top table of European football.
The game on the pitch is only one part of the battle; managing a squad through injuries and regulations is a constant test of a club’s resources and ingenuity.
For Eddie Howe and his players, the hope is that their performance under the lights in Brussels can make all these off-field complications nothing more than a minor footnote.
