Newcastle United have received a mix of concern and cautious relief following the latest update on Tino Livramento, a player who has quickly become one of the most important figures in Eddie Howe’s squad.
The young full-back was forced off during the recent win over Fulham after appearing to suffer a worrying knee injury, and the immediate reaction around St James’ Park was one of real anxiety.
Livramento has been outstanding this season, offering pace, control, and balance on the right side, so seeing him limp off the pitch was the last thing supporters wanted.
After the match, Eddie Howe did little to hide his concern. The Newcastle boss admitted he was worried about the injury and confirmed that Livramento would definitely miss the upcoming Premier League clash against Chelsea.
That news alone was enough to frustrate fans, especially given the wider injury situation already affecting the squad. Newcastle are stretched thin at full-back, and losing Livramento only adds to an already difficult picture.
Kieran Trippier is still sidelined with a hamstring issue, Dan Burn remains unavailable, and Lewis Hall has also been absent. That leaves Newcastle extremely short on natural options in defensive wide areas.
What makes the situation even harder to accept is the fact that both Livramento and Hall have been among the club’s best performers when fit. Their energy, quality on the ball, and defensive intelligence have been vital in both domestic and European competitions.
However, amid the concern, there has been a small but significant piece of good news. Reports suggest that Livramento has avoided serious ligament damage to his knee.
While he will still miss games and require time to recover, the early fear of a season-ending injury appears to have been avoided. That alone brings a sense of relief, as it means Newcastle should see him back in action at some point rather than losing him for the long term.
At this stage, there is no clear timeline on how long Livramento will be out. It will depend on how his knee responds over the coming weeks and how cautious the medical team decide to be.
Given his importance, Newcastle are unlikely to rush him back. Protecting a player of his quality, especially one still early in his career, has to be the priority.
There is also more positive news elsewhere. Lewis Hall is expected to be involved in the match against Chelsea, a fixture that carries extra meaning for him given his history with the London club. His return could not come at a better time.
With Newcastle struggling for defensive options, Hall’s availability offers Howe some much-needed flexibility and balance. Even if he is not fully ready to start, his presence in the squad is a boost.
Replacing Livramento is far from straightforward. In an ideal scenario, Kieran Trippier would step in seamlessly, bringing his experience and leadership to the back line. Unfortunately, that option is off the table for now.
Trippier picked up his hamstring injury towards the end of November and is not expected back until the New Year. Emil Krafth is also unavailable, further limiting Howe’s choices.
That leaves Lewis Miley as a realistic solution. While still a teenager, Miley has already shown remarkable maturity and versatility. He has featured at right-back before, including a brief spell in the Champions League against Marseille, and he impressed once again in that role against Fulham.
It is not his natural position, but he has shown intelligence, composure, and a willingness to learn, all of which make him a valuable option in difficult circumstances.
Relying on a young midfielder to fill in at full-back is far from ideal, especially in the Premier League, where every mistake can be punished. Still, Miley has earned trust through his performances, and his ability to adapt has been one of the bright spots in an otherwise challenging period for Newcastle.
While the confirmation that Livramento has avoided serious damage brings relief, there is no escaping how big a loss he will be, even if only for a short spell.
His absence will be felt immediately, particularly against strong opponents. Newcastle will need to show resilience, flexibility, and collective effort to get through this period.
Injuries are part of football, but when they hit key players all at once, they test the depth and character of a squad. For Newcastle, the hope now is that Livramento’s recovery is smooth, Hall can return to form quickly, and others step up in the meantime.
The season is far from over, and keeping players healthy for the long run may prove more important than rushing anyone back too soon.
