Eddie Howe is preparing to make several key adjustments to his Newcastle United lineup as the Magpies look to claim their third consecutive Champions League victory when they face Athletic Bilbao at St James’ Park on Wednesday evening.
The Tyneside club will hope to bounce back from their recent domestic setback against West Ham United, which came just weeks after their European defeat to Barcelona. Despite those results, Newcastle have already notched crucial wins over Union Saint-Gilloise and Benfica, placing them in a strong position to progress to the knockout rounds.
Their Spanish visitors, Athletic Bilbao, arrive in England having struggled in the competition so far. They have managed just one win and recently suffered a loss to Premier League side Arsenal.
Both teams are facing several injury and fitness concerns heading into this encounter, which could significantly influence their respective lineups.
For Newcastle, the big question revolves around Anthony Gordon’s availability. The England winger was withdrawn at half-time during the defeat to West Ham after picking up a hip issue.
Howe later confirmed that Gordon’s substitution was precautionary, though his chances of starting against Bilbao remain uncertain. If declared fit, he is expected to be named among the substitutes, allowing Harvey Barnes to step into the starting eleven to support forward Nick Woltemade.
Meanwhile, Kieran Trippier is expected to return to the side after missing the weekend trip to London. He is likely to replace Emil Krafth at right-back, strengthening the Magpies’ defensive shape.
However, Tino Livramento and Yoane Wissa continue to be sidelined as they recover from long-term knee injuries. In addition, several other first-team players have been battling illness.
During his pre-match press conference, Howe confirmed that Sandro Tonali, Jacob Murphy, Trippier, and Bruno Guimaraes have all been affected by a sickness bug spreading through the camp.
Howe explained, “There’s been a bit of illness going through the squad. Various players have picked something up Sandro initially, then Jacob, Kieran, and now Bruno. We’ll make a decision on Bruno tomorrow. He’s such an important player for us, but he hasn’t been himself, and that’s why he missed training.”
If Guimaraes fails to recover in time, it would be a major blow for Newcastle given his influence in midfield. Nevertheless, Howe still has several capable options to call upon.
The predicted starting eleven is expected to feature Pope in goal, with Trippier, Thiaw, Schar, and Burn forming the defensive line. In midfield, Tonali, Guimaraes (if fit), and Joelinton are likely to operate together, offering both control and creativity.
The attack could see Murphy and Barnes supporting Woltemade up front. On the bench, Ramsdale, Thompson, Hall, Botman, Krafth, Willock, Ramsey, Miley, Gordon, Elanga, and Osula are all expected to be available as substitutes.
On the other hand, Athletic Bilbao arrive on Tyneside facing their own injury crisis. Star winger Nico Williams did not travel with the squad, while his brother Inaki Williams is ruled out until 2026 following an adductor injury sustained during their Champions League win over Qarabag.
Additionally, Yuri Berchiche and Oihan Sancet have not made the trip either, further limiting Ernesto Valverde’s options.
Defensive issues also plague the Spanish side. Benat Prados and Unai Egiluz remain unavailable as they near the end of their recovery from ACL injuries, while Maroan Sannadi is also on the treatment table.
To make matters worse, defender Yeray Alvarez is serving a suspension until February following a doping-related ban.
Despite these setbacks, Valverde remains confident in his squad’s depth and resilience. Speaking ahead of the match, he said, “I am not worried about the ones who aren’t on the list. Nico and Yuri are not fit to play, but we have players of quality in the squad.”
Bilbao’s predicted starting lineup includes Simon in goal, with Gorosabel, Vivian, Laporte, and Boiro forming the defensive line. In midfield, Rego and Jauregizar are expected to anchor play, while Berenguer, Gomez, and Navarro will support striker Guruzeta in attack.
The bench will likely feature Padilla, Santos, Paredes, Areso, Izaguirre, Lekue, Vesga, Ruiz de Galarreta, Sanchez, Hierro, Serrano, and S. Sanchez.
Both managers face the challenge of balancing squad rotation with maintaining rhythm in what could be a decisive clash for qualification hopes. For Newcastle, home advantage and depth could prove vital, while Bilbao will rely on organization and discipline to frustrate the hosts.
With illness, injuries, and European ambitions at play, this meeting at St James’ Park promises to be another test of Newcastle’s resilience and Bilbao’s fighting spirit.
