Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe was unable to provide much good news when it comes to injury updates as he spoke to the press on Friday morning.
The Magpies travel to Nottingham Forest this weekend but will be without the services of Lewis Miley. The 20-year-old picked up a serious injury in training this week, having not long been back from a recent period on the sidelines.
Howe also provided updates on Tino Livramento and Fabian Schar ahead of the run-in with three games left this season.
Tino Livramento
Eddie Howe provided an update on the progress of Tino Livramento on Friday. The full-back missed out against Arsenal and Brighton with a thigh problem, picked up in the defeat to AFC Bournemouth.
Livramento is unlikely to play again for the Magpies this season, which could mean his time in black-and-white is up amid rife transfer speculation.
The thigh injury is not thought to be too serious and there is an outside chance that Livramento could feature against Fulham on the final day of the season. It feels unlikely that the Magpies will risk that, unless there is European qualification to right for.
The former Chelsea and Southampton man is set to be fit for the World Cup this summer, but would go into that tournament lacking match fitness if selected by Thomas Tuchel.
Howe said: “Tino’s doing well, he’s back running on the grass. I don’t think he’ll be back this season. We could possibly push him for the Fulham game, but I think that’d be silly on his behalf, so let’s let him recover and have a good summer.”
Expected return date – World Cup
Lewis Miley
Newcastle United confirmed a sizeable injury blow this week with news that Lewis Miley would miss the rest of the season. The versatile midfielder, who has been filling in at full-back, has had an injury-ravaged campaign as he continues to break into the first team.
Miley underwent successful surgery on the broken leg this week, having slipped in training on Tuesday. In an update on Friday, Howe said: “It was a really innocuous moment training on Tuesday.
“There was no-one around him, no other play involved and he slipped. At that moment we thought maybe a twist, but he was unable to continue and we realised it was more serious than we thought.
“He faces a few months out, we hope he’ll be back in and around pre-season. It’s a real shame because he was playing really well, a real blow for us but also for Lewis. But knowing his strength of character, he’ll be back better than ever.
“It’s been a huge frustration for him. He’s had some really unfortunate moments. This was a slip, there was nothing he could have done about it. We’ve tried to manage his workload, we’re aware of his age and we’ve tried not to overload him too much. Athletically, he is outstanding and his body is strong, but he’s still growing to a degree.”
Expected return date – next season
Fabian Schar
Fabian Schar has been absent since the 4-3 victory over Leeds United at the start of January, missing the Magpies’ torrid run of form in recent months.
The 34-year-old is out of contract on Tyneside this June and is another who may not ever play for the club again with Newcastle unlikely to offer a new deal to the player given his injury history.
Schar is back in training but had a recent setback due to an infection in the foot. When asked if the defender could play again this season, Howe said: “It’s not 100 per cent sure.
“His situation was unique because he was close to returning to full fitness and then got this infection. He is looking stronger in his body, but if he is going to be able to return before the end of the season is unsure.”
Expected return date – unknown
Emil Krafth
It’s been a torrid season for Emil Krafth, who has managed just three appearances this term. 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.”
Expected return date – unknown
In other news, ‘No Point’: Eddie Howe cagey over Anthony Gordon as Newcastle United and Bayern Munich open talks.
