- Newcastle United face Crystal Palace on Sunday afternoon
- Magpies’ first Premier League action since 2-1 derby defeat to Sunderland
- Eddie Howe provides Newcastle United injury update on Guimaraes, Schar and Botman
Newcastle United have confirmed a mixed bag of injury updates ahead of taking on Crystal Palace at St James’ Park on Sunday afternoon with the race for European football well and truly on.
The Magpies have been knocked out of the Champions League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup, leaving the Premier League as the only priority for Eddie Howe and his staff between now and the end of the season.
Howe has had to contend with a jam-packed fixture calendar this season and now, with one match a week and coming off a three-week break for the international period, results are expected.
Newcastle United sit 12th in the division, four points off the top seven and qualification for Europe. Getting the Magpies into a European competition would come with a healthy cash boost this summer.
Howe has been making do without several key players for large parts of this season and it had been hoped that first team stars would have recovered over the break and be fit enough to take on Crystal Palace.
Newcastle United injury update ahead of Crystal Palace
Bruno Guimaraes
Newcastle United captain Bruno Guimaraes has not featured since picking up a hamstring injury in the 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in London at the start of February.
A new problem for the Brazil international, that was immediately cause for concern. Newcastle United had shared footage of Guimaraes back in training this week, which had boosted hopes that the midfield linchpin would be back in the squad to face Crystal Palace.
However, speaking on Friday morning, Howe said: “Bruno suffered on his return from Brazil with illness, that has delayed his return. Doubt over this game and the Bournemouth game. Maybe he will be back for Arsenal.”
Potential return date – Arsenal v Newcastle United, April 25
Fabian Schar
Schar hasn’t featured in the league since early January, last playing in the 4-3 victory over Leeds United. The 34-year-old had successful surgery on a broken foot at the time and was set to be out for three months.
Speaking on Friday morning, Howe provided an update and confirmed that the centre-back had endured a setback. He said: “Fabian Schär suffered an infection in his foot so he is in hospital having a minor surgery on that so he will be out for about a month.”
Potential return date – Nottingham Forest v Newcastle United, May 10
Lewis Miley
Lewis Miley had been spotted in first team training ahead of the trip to Selhurst Park and is expected to be part of the matchday squad on Sunday.
The 19-year-old hasn’t played for Newcastle United since the end of January with a thigh injury, which had initially been diagnosed as a dead leg.
There was a fear that the problem could be season-ending but rehab has gone well for the teenager. Howe confirmed that he had ‘trained well’ ahead of Crystal Palace.
Potential return date – Crystal Palace v Newcastle United, April 12
Sven Botman
Sunderland striker Brian Brobbey bruised the spirit of Newcastle United fans with his late winner at St James’ Park last time out, and left a physical mark on centre-back Sven Botman.
The Magpies defender has had to undergo surgery on a fractured eye socket over the break after sustaining the blow from his compatriot. Botman is available to face Crystal Palace and will wear a protective mask, if handed minutes in South London.
Potential return date – Crystal Palace v Newcastle United, April 12
Sandro Tonali
Never too far away from a headline at the moment, it turned heads when Sandro Tonali featured for Italy over the international break, having missed out for Newcastle United against Chelsea and Sunderland.
The 25-year-old played 83 minutes against Northern Ireland, registering a goal and an assist, and then 120 minutes against Bosnia as Italy lost out on World Cup qualification. The groin injury plaguing him before the break has cleared up.
Potential return date – Crystal Palace v Newcastle United, April 12
Emil Krafth
It’s been a torrid season for Emil Krafth, who has managed just three appearances this season. The defender picked up a knee injury on international duty early in the season and rehab has proven tricky.
Speaking in February, Howe said: “Emil has had an op on his knee, so in all likelihood, it looks like his season is over, which is a blow for us.
“He first suffered the problem on international duty, and we hoped he could come back and be OK. It was clear in training he wasn’t going to get to the level needed, and there needed to be a surgical intervention.”
Potential return date – Unknown.
In other news, Newcastle United join Liverpool in race to sign ‘next Riccardo Calafiori’.
