Just when Newcastle United appeared to be turning a corner with injuries, another difficult week has left Eddie Howe facing fresh problems, especially at the back. What had started to feel like a slow recovery process quickly shifted into another spell of concern after two key defensive players were forced off injured in separate matches. It has once again highlighted how thin the squad is in certain areas and why January could yet bring movement in the transfer market.
The first setback came during Newcastle’s dramatic 4–3 victory over Leeds United, when Fabian Schar suffered damage to his ankle. Initial fears inside the club were serious, with worries that the Swiss defender may have broken a bone.
Thankfully, scans ruled out a fracture, but ligament damage was confirmed, and that alone is enough to rule him out for a significant period. Losing Schar at this stage of the season is a major blow, given his experience, leadership, and importance to Howe’s defensive structure.
Only days later, Newcastle were hit again. During the FA Cup clash against Bournemouth, which United eventually won on penalties, Tino Livramento pulled up with a hamstring problem and had to receive treatment before being withdrawn. The timing could hardly have been worse.
Livramento had only just returned to action after working his way back from his second knee injury of the season. For a player who has spent so much time rebuilding his fitness, this latest issue feels especially cruel.
Eddie Howe did not hide his frustration or disappointment when speaking about Livramento’s injury. He made it clear how hard the defender had worked to regain his physical condition and admitted the club would now need to wait for scan results before understanding how long he will be sidelined.
At this stage, there is no clear return date, which adds to the uncertainty. Newcastle can only hope the damage is not severe, but hamstring injuries are notoriously unpredictable.
These two injuries leave Newcastle short of options in defence once again. Dan Burn and Emil Krafth are still unavailable, meaning Howe has very limited cover across the back line. Burn, who suffered a broken rib and punctured lung in the derby defeat to Sunderland in December, is making progress.
He has been out for around a month but has now returned to the grass and is slowly increasing the intensity of his training. Even so, the club remains cautious. Rib and lung injuries are not something to rush, and Burn is still expected to be a few weeks away, with a possible return toward the end of January.
Krafth’s situation is less clear. The versatile defender has been missing since returning from international duty with Sweden due to a knee problem. Day by day, his condition seems to change, and there is still no firm timeline for his return. Howe has openly admitted that Krafth is a big miss and that the club cannot yet put a date on when he will be ready to contribute again.
Schar’s absence is expected to be longer. While the good news is that he should return before the season ends, the current guidance suggests he may not be back until late April or early May.
That means Newcastle will have to navigate some crucial fixtures without one of their most reliable defenders, which could influence decisions behind the scenes in the transfer window.
While the defensive situation looks worrying, there is at least some encouragement further up the pitch. Newcastle are hopeful of welcoming back two attacking players in the very near future. Anthony Elanga, who has been sidelined since picking up a knee issue against Chelsea just before Christmas, is close to returning.
He has been stepping up his recovery and could feature either in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Manchester City or shortly after against Wolves. His pace and energy out wide have been missed, and his return would be a timely boost.
Jacob Murphy is in a similar position. He was left out of the squad last weekend as a precaution after feeling some discomfort in his hamstring. The decision was made to avoid taking risks, and the club is confident there is no serious damage.
Murphy is expected to be available again very soon, possibly for the same upcoming fixtures as Elanga. Having both wingers back would give Howe more options and relieve some of the pressure on an already stretched squad.
Elsewhere, young forward Will Osula is continuing his recovery from a foot injury that has kept him out since he was withdrawn from the bench against Athletic Bilbao. His immediate focus is simply getting fit again.
While there has been talk of a possible loan move this month, nothing will happen until he is physically ready. The club is hopeful he could return toward the end of January if his progress continues.
Jamaal Lascelles remains another uncertainty. The club captain has not been training regularly and has been struggling physically for some time. Howe has explained that it is not one clear injury but rather a general issue with how Lascelles’ body is responding.
With speculation around a possible exit this month, and with Newcastle dealing with so many defensive problems, his situation remains delicate and unresolved.
Overall, Newcastle find themselves once again balancing hope and frustration. There are signs of recovery in attack, but defensive injuries continue to pile up at the worst possible time. How the club responds over the coming weeks, both in terms of recovery and potential transfers, could shape the rest of their season.
