Newcastle United look set for a much-needed lift ahead of their clash with Manchester City, even though one key player will still be missing. Eddie Howe has rarely enjoyed a moment in which his entire squad was fully fit, and this season has been no different.
The team have been stretched across three competitions without their first-choice fullbacks, Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento, while Yoane Wissa’s knee injury has left Nick Woltemade as the only available striker.
Add in the spells on the sidelines for Jacob Ramsey, Will Osula and now Anthony Gordon, and it becomes clear just how disrupted Howe’s plans have been.
With Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City next to arrive at St James’ Park and Newcastle in desperate need of all three points, the timing of any positive injury news could not be better.
Fortunately for Howe, several influential names are now closing in on a return, giving Newcastle far more options than they have had in recent weeks.
The club are confident that three important players will be fit to face the champions. Joelinton is expected to be available after being forced off during the match at Brentford.
What initially looked worrying turned out to be far less serious, with the midfielder suffering only a cut from Dango Outtara’s challenge. He was not included in Brazil’s squad over the international break, which has allowed him some rest and recovery time, and Newcastle remain hopeful he will be ready when league action resumes.
Tino Livramento is another player on the verge of a comeback. He has been stepping up his training programme after battling a knee issue, and next weekend’s match has always been viewed as a realistic target for his return.
Howe previously confirmed that the defender was on schedule and that the Manchester City game was the point they were aiming for. His availability would be a huge relief, given how much Newcastle have missed his energy and defensive reliability.
Anthony Gordon’s situation has also improved. The forward picked up a hip problem before the Champions League game against Athletic Club, and the injury became worse during the first half of that match.
That ruled him out of the defeat to Brentford and also kept him off England duty. However, the injury is now considered minor, and the expectation is that he will be fit to return after a week of rest and careful monitoring.
Lewis Hall is another whose fitness is building at the right moment. He is expected to be ready to start against Manchester City, which is particularly important with Dan Burn suspended for the match.
Hall’s return will offer Newcastle greater balance in defence and allow Howe to return to a more familiar setup.
The one player who will not make it back in time, however, is Yoane Wissa. His recovery has again been pushed back slightly, with the start of December now viewed as a more realistic target for his debut.
The Telegraph report that he will miss the Manchester City match and will not be available for the midweek trip to Marseille either. The hope is that he could return in time for the Premier League visit to Everton in a couple of weeks.
Given the nature of Wissa’s knee injury, Howe and the medical staff have made it clear they will not rush him. They fear that pushing him too early could lead to a longer absence, so they are effectively giving him a full pre-season-style training block.
With his disrupted exit from Brentford and the knee problem stopping him from integrating with the squad earlier, this careful build-up is seen as the best way to ensure that when Wissa finally returns, he is fully ready to contribute.
For now, Newcastle must rely on Woltemade as the only striker available, but the return of key midfielders and fullbacks offers the team a huge lift. The challenge ahead is still enormous, but Howe will at least go into the Manchester City clash with more depth, more balance and more belief than he has had for weeks.
