Lewis Miley, Sandro Tonali & Joe Willockplaceholder image
Lewis Miley, Sandro Tonali & Joe Willock | Getty Images
The latest Newcastle injury news ahead of crucial matches against Barcelona and Sunderland - including updates on Sandro Tonali.
Newcastle United are preparing for one of the biggest weeks of the club’s recent history, with a decisive Champions League last 16 match against Barcelona coming up on Wednesday before a Premier League showdown with old rivals Sunderland – but fresh injury concerns are giving Eddie Howe a headache in the build-up.
The Newcastle midfielder has become a particular crisis point. Not only is the influential Bruno Guimarães out, but Sandro Tonali, Lewis Miley and Joe Willock are all doubts heading into two massive matches. In total, Howe could be forced to make do without as many as six first-team players this week.
With kick-off at the Camp Nou fast approaching, we’ve collected all of the latest Newcastle injury news below, along with the expected return dates for the absent players when available.
Will Sandro Tonali or Lewis Miley be fit for Newcastle?
Newcastle’s midfield situation worsened over the weekend when Sandro Tonali missed the 1-0 win over Chelsea through illness, with the Italian feeling unwell after Friday’s training session.
Howe told the media that there was “something going around now for two to three weeks in the squad,” adding that he had “fingers crossed it follows a similar pattern with the other illnesses we've had and it's quite a quick recovery.”
The Newcastle manager suggested that he was optimistic that Tonali would be able to travel to Spain for the second leg of the Champions League knockout match against Barcelona, with the tie currently finely balanced at 1-1, but he remains a doubt – and isn’t the only important player whose participation is uncertain.
Rising star Lewis Miley has been unavailable since the end of January with a dead leg and while Newcastle have been hoping that he would return to fitness imminently, he was not able to train last week and as it stands seems unlikely to be involved against Barcelona. It is unclear whether he will be back in time for Sunday’s Tyne-Wear Derby, but he is expected to be available again in the near future.
Joe Willock another potential absentee for Barcelona & Sunderland matches
To make matters worse, Joe Willock was forced off towards the end of the Chelsea match, with the midfielder substituted after 77 minutes having gone down twice clutching his thigh.
Howe has yet to provide a full update on Willock’s fitness, only telling the media that “I don't know 100 per cent how he is. I've not had time to sit with him and discuss it.” As it stands, the 26-year-old is a major doubt for both games.
Newcastle certainly won’t be able to call upon the services of Bruno Guimarães, who is expected to remain out until after the March international break following a hamstring injury. The Brazilian is set to travel to Barcelona with the squad, but Howe has confirmed that he will only join the team in a non-playing capacity. The away match at Crystal Palace on 11 April is a likely target for his return.
They will also be without Fabian Schär, with the defender also targeting an April return following surgery on an ankle injury, and Emil Krafth, who is not expected to play this season after undergoing a procedure on a persistent knee problem.
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