The Magpies have held an open training session in front of broadcasting rights holders
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe oversees training ahead of Barcelona(Image: PA)
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Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe put four doubtful players through their paces in an open training session at Benton this morning.
Having resisted the temptation to use Jacob Murphy, who had a neck injury, against Man City in the FA Cup, the winger was able to do some training this morning. Anthony Gordon, Joelinton and Tino Livramento also trained with the midfield duo nursing knocks and the full-back just back from a hamstring injury.
The big call Howe must make is whether to start with Livramento against Barcelona so soon after his return from a three-month layoff.
Howe said on Saturday night: “We're in a cycle where we just need to get some players back fit and get some of the strength back in the group.
“Again, I couldn't use Jacob Murphy today because of a neck problem which he suffered yesterday and wanted to see how I felt in the warm-up to see if I could use him.
“We were really stretched today again and I think the lads that played gave everything but we just ran out of energy.
"We tried to do it with a couple of key players today that we had to protect.
"Anthony Gordon's come in with an ankle problem, we had to protect him today. We had to protect Joelinton today with past experience. These players are too big to lose."
The Magpies have been tip-toeing around some injury concerns in recent weeks and been advised to be careful with certain players.
Newcastle lost Bruno Guimaraes to a hamstring problem after pulling up in the 2-1 win to Spurs while Lewis Miley is expected to miss Tuesday night's game.
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