NUFC issue official Jacob Ramsey injury update after Leeds draw

The first international break of the season is approaching, and for Newcastle United, it comes at a useful time.

The team has navigated a challenging start to the Premier League campaign, and while the results—a draw against Aston Villa, a narrow loss to Liverpool, and another draw away at Leeds may not fully reflect the performances, there are clear positives to build on.

However, a new concern has emerged following the goalless draw at Elland Road: the fitness of summer signing Jacob Ramsey.

The midfielder, who joined from Aston Villa in a deal worth £39 million, was handed his full debut against Leeds.

There was a lot of excitement around his inclusion, as fans were eager to see how he would fit into Eddie Howe’s system alongside Bruno Guimarães and Sandro Tonali.

Unfortunately, his evening was cut short. After receiving treatment for a knock following a challenge from Sean Longstaff, Ramsey managed to continue until halftime but did not emerge for the second half.

Lewis Miley replaced him, and the team went on to secure a point in a match that was more about resilience than flair.

After the game, manager Eddie Howe provided an update on the situation. He explained that Ramsey’s ankle had swollen up during the interval, and the decision was made not to take any unnecessary risks.

With a two-week break ahead, the medical staff will now have time to properly assess the injury and determine the extent of the damage.

The hope is that it is nothing serious and that the 24-year-old will be available for the next match against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Howe also took the opportunity to reflect on the match itself. He acknowledged that it was not a classic performance, especially when compared to the emotional and energetic display against Liverpool earlier in the week.

He praised the team’s defensive solidity a clean sheet away from home is always a positive but admitted that creativity in the final third was lacking. The team struggled to create clear chances, a issue that was compounded by the absence of several key attacking players.

This led to a tactical shift from the manager. With Joelinton injured and Anthony Gordon suspended, Howe opted to switch to a back five, using Kieran Trippier, Sven Botman, Fabian Schär, Dan Burn, and Tino Livramento across the defense.

The aim was to provide stability and support for young striker Will Osula, who was making his first start. For an hour, the system worked in terms of limiting Leeds’ opportunities, but the team found it difficult to transition into attacking phases with any real threat.

Howe explained that the change was a mixture of necessity and strategy—a way to adapt to the players available while also trying to counter Leeds’ strengths.

He emphasized that the intention was always to be positive, but on this occasion, the fluency just wasn’t there. Later in the game, he switched back to a more familiar shape, but by then, the rhythm of the match was already set.

For now, the focus will be on recovery and preparation. The break will allow injured players time to heal and give the coaching staff a chance to work on the training ground.

The early signs suggest that Newcastle have a strong foundation—they are organized, hard to break down, and full of effort. The next step is to turn those qualities into wins, and that will be the challenge when club football returns.