Newcastle United find themselves entering one of the most demanding stretches of the season with a familiar problem repeating itself. The squad is once again stretched at full-back, and Eddie Howe knows he must carefully manage both Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall over the coming weeks.
These two young defenders have quickly become essential to the team, but they are also being relied on far more than Howe would prefer because the usual senior options are unavailable.
The return of Livramento and Hall from injury should have given the squad a boost, yet the timing has made things even more complicated. As soon as both players became fit enough to start again, Newcastle lost Kieran Trippier and Emil Krafth.
Trippier suffered a hamstring injury right before the 2-1 win over Manchester City, and Krafth picked up a knee injury while with Sweden on international duty. Both setbacks arrived almost back-to-back, leaving Howe with very little depth in the wide defensive positions.
If Trippier or Krafth were available, Howe would be able to rotate Livramento at right-back or move him across to the left side to give Hall a rest. That flexibility has disappeared.
Dan Burn can cover on the left but he is naturally a centre-half, and the team functions differently when he is moved out wide. So the responsibility continues to fall heavily on Livramento and Hall, and the physical demands are growing with every passing match.
Howe explained that neither Trippier nor Krafth is expected back soon, at least not in the immediate run of fixtures. The hope is that they will return closer to Christmas, which still means several more games where Livramento and Hall must start, push themselves, and play through fatigue.
Howe admitted that the workload has been very tough on Livramento, who only recently returned from two months out with a knee issue. Since coming back, he has had no choice but to play every game.
Despite that, Howe praised his resilience and maturity, noting that he has handled the situation far better than most young players would.
Hall has a similar story. He also returned from injury around the same time, and Howe has leaned on him heavily. Hall started three of the four most recent matches and only dropped to the bench for the Champions League trip to Marseille.
Howe has been extremely pleased with his performances, highlighting the level of quality he brings from the left side. Hall offers a different style compared to the other options: he is technical, sharp in possession, and confident when carrying the ball forward. His link-up play and his ability to combine with teammates in advanced positions have stood out in several matches.
But Howe pointed out what he sees as the only real issue with Hall he tires late in games. It is not a question of commitment or mentality. The young defender gives everything he has, and in the first halves of matches against Everton, Tottenham and Manchester City, Howe believes he was outstanding.
The problem is simply physical. Hall is still adjusting to the intensity of back-to-back football at this level, and with the squad so thin, Howe cannot give him the rest he needs.
The challenge now is managing him through this next period without risking injury. Howe made it clear that Hall is too important to lose, and the staff must find a way to keep him on the pitch safely.
That means careful planning, changes during games when possible, and trusting that both he and Livramento can keep handling the pressure while reinforcements recover.
Newcastle’s schedule only adds to the strain. They host Burnley at St James’ Park, then travel to Germany to face Bayer Leverkusen in midweek.
After that comes one of the biggest fixtures of the season, the Tyne-Wear derby away to Sunderland. These are high-intensity matches, and Howe knows the defensive line cannot afford any more injuries.
Livramento and Hall have stepped up brilliantly, showing maturity beyond their years, but they need help. They need teammates returning, and they need moments of rest to avoid breaking down physically.
Until then, Howe has little choice but to trust them again and again, hoping they can push through this demanding period without suffering setbacks.
For now, Newcastle must navigate this stretch carefully, protecting their young full-backs while still trying to win matches.
It is a delicate balance, but Howe believes both players have the character and quality to handle it. The hope is that once Trippier and Krafth return around Christmas, Livramento and Hall will finally get the breathing room they deserve.
