Newcastle United are suffering major issues at full-back, with Harrison Ashby even out of contention.
Newcastle United were beaten by Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday and didn’t quite click in the 2-1 defeat.
Eddie Howe’s midfield struggled while Newcastle wingers continue to struggle for goals.
Another factor is Newcastle’s full-back positions, with both Valentino Livramento and Lewis Hall out of action.
Kieran Trippier and Dan Burn are solid players, but they don’t quite offer the same dynamism going forward, which certainly impacts Newcastle’s wide players.
Harrison Ashby waves his arms in the air during a friendly between Newcastle United and Atletico Madrid.
Photo by George Wood/Getty Images
Harrison Ashby joins Newcastle United injury list
Losing Livramento and Hall at the same time is an enormous blow, with Emil Krafth the only real senior backup option.
Alex Murphy can slot in at left-back, but he is untried at Premier League level.
Then there is Harrison Ashby, who has almost become something of a forgotten man at St James’ Park.
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We would forgive any of you for not even realising that Ashby is registered as part of Newcastle’s 25-man Premier League squad.
The 24-year-old would be an option at right-back if called upon, but that won’t be happening.
Howe has told The Chronicle that Ashby is actually out injured, joining Livramento and Hall on the sidelines.
A thigh problem is keeping Ashby out, with Howe admitting that he has actually been out ‘for a period of time’ already.
“Unfortunately at the moment Harrison is injured, and he has been injured for a period of time with a thigh injury so we are waiting for him to be fit again,” said Howe.
Harrison Ashby will surely leave Newcastle United in 2026
This setback almost sums up Ashby’s time at Newcastle.
Newcastle signed Ashby from West Ham United for £3million in January 2023, seemingly viewing him as an eventual heir to Kieran Trippier.
Almost three years on, Ashby still hasn’t made a single first-team appearance for Newcastle.
Loan spells with Swansea City and Queens Park Rangers have brought mixed results and have ultimately failed to push him closer to first-team action at Newcastle.
Now approaching 24, Ashby needs first-team minutes, and a departure in 2026 – either in January or at the end of the season – simply must happen.
Ashby being out injured just as a potential opportunity emerges just sums up his disappointing time at St James’ Park, and it just looks like that first-team breakthrough is never going to come.