Newcastle United face a tough test on Tuesday night as they host Benfica in a crucial Champions League fixture at St James’ Park.
After a frustrating 2-1 defeat to Brighton at the weekend, Eddie Howe’s men will be determined to bounce back in front of their home fans.
However, the build-up to this game has been far from ideal, with injuries continuing to pile up and several key players already ruled out.
The Magpies have made a mixed start to their European campaign, winning one and losing one of their opening two fixtures.
A victory over Jose Mourinho’s Benfica would give them a major boost in their quest to qualify for the knockout stages. But Howe will have to deal with a depleted squad, as several stars remain unavailable due to injuries or UEFA’s selection rules.
Benfica, meanwhile, are also dealing with their own fitness problems, with Mourinho inheriting a handful of long-term absentees after taking over from Bruno Lage.
Here’s a breakdown of the confirmed absentees and those in doubt ahead of Newcastle United versus Benfica:
Benfica injury list
- Bruma – Out
The Portuguese winger remains sidelined with a long-term Achilles injury suffered in July. He has yet to feature for Benfica this season and will not be part of Mourinho’s squad for the trip to Tyneside. - Alexander Bah – Out
The Danish right-back suffered a serious ACL injury during a February match against Moreirense. He continues his recovery and will play no part in the clash at St James’ Park. - Manu Silva – Out
Like Bah, Silva also sustained an ACL injury in the same match against Moreirense, only minutes apart. His absence further limits Mourinho’s defensive options, and he too has been ruled out of Tuesday night’s encounter.
Newcastle United injury list
- Yoane Wissa – Out
Eddie Howe confirmed on Friday that the £55 million summer signing from Brentford remains sidelined with a PCL injury. Although his recovery is on schedule and no setbacks have been reported, he won’t make his Newcastle debut just yet. Wissa is expected to return next month, but he will have to wait a little longer for his Champions League debut.
- Tino Livramento – Out
The full-back continues to recover from a knee injury sustained during the defeat to Arsenal last month. His return is expected towards the end of November, possibly ahead of Newcastle’s trip to Marseille. - Lewis Hall – Out
The young defender remains unavailable after suffering a hamstring injury during Newcastle’s last Champions League outing in Brussels. Howe recently confirmed that Hall’s latest scan brought positive news and hinted that he could return before the next international break. - Sandro Tonali – Doubt
The Italian midfielder has been battling illness and remains a major doubt for the Benfica clash. Howe described his situation as “touch and go,” leaving a late decision to be made on his availability. Tonali’s absence would be a big blow, given his importance in midfield and his growing influence since joining the club.
- Jamaal Lascelles – Out
The Newcastle captain has not been included in the club’s Champions League “List A” squad, which means he is ineligible to play against Benfica. - John Ruddy – Out
The experienced goalkeeper is also absent from the “List A” squad and will therefore not feature in Tuesday’s match. - Mark Gillespie – Out
Like Ruddy and Lascelles, Gillespie was not registered in Newcastle’s Champions League squad, ruling him out of selection.
That makes a total of nine confirmed absentees for Eddie Howe’s side, a number that could rise to ten if Sandro Tonali fails to recover in time. The absence of key players such as Livramento, Wissa, and Hall limits Howe’s flexibility, especially in defensive and attacking transitions.
Despite the injury setbacks, Newcastle have shown resilience under pressure in recent seasons, often producing big performances at home in Europe. St James’ Park is expected to be electric once again, and Howe will be hoping his available players rise to the occasion against a dangerous Benfica side.
Jose Mourinho’s team will also arrive with something to prove after a narrow 1-0 defeat to Chelsea in their previous Champions League outing.
With both sides dealing with selection problems, Tuesday’s encounter promises to be a true test of depth, character, and tactical discipline.
For Newcastle, the mission is simple turn frustration into motivation, deliver a strong response, and take a big step toward the knockout stages, even if it means doing so with a patched-up squad.
