The Magpies have made special moves to welcome back one star but modern-day sensation will miss the game
A Newcastle United supporters shirt with a Champions League badge
Newcastle United supporters planning on travelling to Europe to see their team play in the Champions League have been warned to stay alert when booking their trip
(Image: 2023 Getty Images)
Newcastle United will be squaring up to a Barcelona team who will arrive on Tyneside without superstar Lamine Yamal.
The clash, which has stirred memories of the 1997 affair between the two clubs, will also see Newcastle make Tino Asprilla the guest of honour after the club jetted the Colombia legend back for tomorrow's game.
Ex-Parma star Tino will be on hand to greet fans as Newcastle made the perfect nod towards that five-goal thriller 28 years ago.
But the Spain international sensation Yamal is missing due to a bone issue after returning from international duty injured last week, much to the disgust of his boss Hansi Flick.
Flick turned to Swedish U21 wonderkid Roony Bardghji to face Valenica in the 6-0 win last weekend but also has Brazil star Raphinha to lean on in Yamal's absence.
Content Image
Content Image
Barca touch down in Newcastle this afternoon and will train at St James' Park this evening ahead of the Champions League clash on Thursday night (8pm).
Despite Yamal's absence, Barca can still pack a punch with Marcus Rashford, veteran Robert Lewandowski and Chelsea transfer target Fermín López in their ranks.
Frenkie de Jong has also been declared fully fit after injury and will travel to Newcastle for the big Euro encounter.
A Barca statement read: "The team is flying north on Wednesday in time to train at the ground and for the coach and one player to give official media conferences.
"None of Ter Stegen, Lamine Yamal, Balde or Gavi are available for this one but there is good news with the return to fitness of Frenkie de Jong.
"The full squad is as follows: Araujo, Cubarsí, Ferran, Pedri, Lewandowski, Raphinha, Joan García, Rashford, Christensen, Fermín, M. Casado, Gerard Martin, Olmo, De Jong, Bernal, Kounde, Eric, Szczesny, Jofre, Roony, A. Fernandez and Kochen."
Speaking about the prospect of Yamal being involved, Howe had told Chronicle Live: "Whenever I get asked these types of questions my answer’s always the same – you want to play the best teams, you want to play against the best players, and you want to challenge yourselves as much as you can.
"But in saying that, we also want to win. We’ll take whoever they play."