Newcastle United are seeing a mixed picture on the injury front, with some encouraging updates alongside fresh concerns, according to Daily Mail reporter Craig Hope.
Hope reports that the hamstring issue
which ruled Lewis Hall out of Wednesday’s Carabao Cup victory over Fulham is not serious. Hall is expected to be available for Saturday’s Premier League clash with Chelsea, easing immediate concerns at left back. Eddie Howe was also pleased with Alex Murphy’s cameo in midweek, with the young defender making a positive impression when called upon.
There is also growing clarity around Dan Burn’s situation. As revealed by Daily Mail Sport earlier this week, Burn sustained rib and lung injuries, but the projected four-to-six week recovery window means he could return by the end of next month. While the injury initially raised alarm, the timeline offers hope that the centre-back will not face a prolonged spell on the sidelines.
Sven Botman’s recovery is progressing as well. Hope reports that the Dutch defender is making good strides following a back complaint. Although Howe has avoided placing a definitive timeframe on Botman’s return, late December or early January had been referenced internally earlier in the week, suggesting a comeback may not be far away.
The most significant concern remains Tino Livramento. Confidential, as cited by Hope, reports that the England international has avoided a season-ending knee injury after limping off against Fulham, despite Howe admitting post-match that the issue “did not look good.” While serious ligament damage has been ruled out, Livramento is set to miss Saturday’s game against Chelsea and several matches beyond. Further clarity on the length of his absence is expected within the next 24 hours.
Although Livramento’s season is not over, his absence represents another defensive setback for Howe as Newcastle attempt to navigate a demanding run of fixtures.
