Howe has been dealt a fresh blowplaceholder image
Howe has been dealt a fresh blow | Getty Images
Newcastle United v Chelsea: Eddie Howe has just two fully fit defenders to choose from and no full-backs for Saturday’s Premier League match.
Fabian Schar and Malick Thiaw are Newcastle’s only fit centre-backs as things stand with Dan Burn, Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles all out. Things are even worse in the full-back positions with Tino Livramento, Kieran Trippier and Emil Krafth all out injured while Lewis Hall is a doubt for the Chelsea match with a hamstring problem.
Hall missed the 2-1 win over Fulham in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night but could come back into the side at St James’ Park this weekend. The 21-year-old joined Newcastle from Chelsea in 2023 on an initial loan deal that was later made permanent for £28million.
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With Hall out against Fulham, Tino Livramento slotted in at left-back and 19-year-old midfielder Lewis Miley played the full game at right-back - scoring a stoppage time winner.
But Livramento’s injury in the game saw Alex Murphy come on and see out the match at left-back. Murphy made his Premier League debut for Newcastle against Chelsea in November 2023 but is yet to start a competitive game for the club.
The current injury crisis means this is the first time the Republic of Ireland youth international has been under consideration to start a Premier League match. The 21-year-old spent last season on loan at Bolton Wanderers in League One.
On Murphy, Howe said: “Alex did really well [v Fulham]. He's someone who has trained with us for a long time. He hasn't had any major game exposure with us, but a lot of training time, a lot of development.
“He's had a good loan spell. So he's someone that we trust. And performances like that will only do him good for the long term.”
Another full-back option emerges for NUFC
Miley has shown good versatility to fill in at right-back for Newcastle and could be tasked with doing the same again on Saturday given the lack of alternatives.
On Wednesday, Howe called up 18-year-old full-back Leo Shahar to the bench for only the second time. And given the lack of options in the position, the teenager could be named on the bench for the first time in the Premier League this season.
While Murphy has made a few substitute cameos for Newcastle’s first team, Shahar’s senior experience is limited to pre-season and training ground matches.
But the England Under-18 international is a highly-rated player behind the scenes at Darsley Park.
"Leo is another talented young player here,” Howe admitted. “I think he possesses the ability to play both sides so left-back and right-back, he's done both for us.
“He has trained with us intermittently for about a season, depending on our numbers.
"He is an England youth international, highly rated, really good athletically so he is in and around it and he is someone we would certainly trust having trained with us for a long period of time.”
While Howe scrambles for solutions to Newcastle’s current defensive crisis, it is hoped club’s position will become stronger come the start of 2026 with players set to return.
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