Eddie Howe has shared a wave of optimism with Newcastle United fans as he confirmed positive progress on the injuries of Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento ahead of their upcoming Premier League clash with Fulham at St James’ Park.
The Magpies will kick off on Saturday afternoon with renewed confidence, as several key players edge closer to full fitness.
The good news for Newcastle is that there are no fresh injury worries in the camp. Sandro Tonali remains a minor doubt due to illness after missing out on Tuesday’s 3–0 Champions League win over Benfica, but his situation isn’t serious.
The bigger relief comes from the sight of Lewis Hall, Tino Livramento, and Yoane Wissa back on the training pitch after their recent absences through injury.
Wissa, who joined the Magpies from Brentford on deadline day for £55 million, has yet to make his debut due to a knee injury. However, the 27-year-old forward is making encouraging progress and could be available for selection within the next two weeks.
Tino Livramento, who also suffered a knee injury during the defeat to Arsenal, has surprised everyone with how quickly he’s recovering. Initially expected to be sidelined for eight weeks, the 22-year-old full-back has already returned to light training after just four.
Lewis Hall’s situation has been more delicate. The 21-year-old left-back picked up a hamstring injury earlier this month in the game against Union Saint-Gilloise.
At first, Howe admitted that it wasn’t a short-term issue, raising concerns that Hall could face another lengthy spell on the sidelines.
His return to full fitness has been carefully managed, especially after missing around five months of football earlier in the year due to a serious foot injury suffered in February.
After undergoing scans, initial results were inconclusive, leaving both player and manager in uncertainty. Howe mentioned that Hall needed another scan to determine the severity, saying that while it wouldn’t be a quick comeback, they hoped it wouldn’t turn into a long-term absence either.
Thankfully, the second set of scan results brought good news. The damage was less severe than feared, and Hall’s recovery timeline has now been shortened.
“We were relieved with the latest scan,” Howe said following the results. “It could have gone either way, but it’s definitely on the shorter side. We’re confident he’ll be back during this period of matches before the next international break.”
That window includes upcoming fixtures against Fulham, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United, Athletic Club, and Brentford.
When pressed for an update on both Hall and Livramento, Howe hinted that their returns could happen sooner rather than later.
“Tino is back on the grass for the first time, which is a huge step,” Howe said. “He’s making really good progress, and we’re very pleased with how things are going.
Lewis is also doing great he’s been training well for a while now, putting in back-to-back sessions and pushing himself hard. Hopefully, he won’t be too far away from being ready.”
It’s unlikely that Hall will be rushed back into the lineup this weekend against Fulham, especially considering his recent injury history. Howe and his medical team are taking no chances, ensuring that the young defender returns only when fully ready.
However, the fact that both Hall and Livramento are now back on the grass and close to full fitness is a massive morale boost for Newcastle United.
Both players have proven to be crucial under Howe’s system, offering versatility and energy down the flanks. Livramento has shown he can perform equally well on either side of defense, while Hall provides depth and youthful enthusiasm in a position that has lacked options at times.
With Newcastle competing on multiple fronts this season including a strong Premier League campaign and European commitments squad depth will be essential. The return of two such promising defenders couldn’t come at a better time.
For Howe and the Newcastle supporters, seeing both Hall and Livramento edging closer to match readiness signals a turning point after weeks of fitness frustrations.
It represents more than just two players returning it’s a reminder of the club’s growing resilience and determination to push forward, even when challenges arise.
At a time when Newcastle’s ambitions remain sky-high and the pressure to compete among England’s elite continues to grow, Howe’s latest injury update provides the kind of lift every fan needed to hear.
The Magpies are getting stronger, steadier, and ready to fight again with Hall and Livramento soon back where they belong: on the pitch, wearing black and white.
