Newcastle United are back in Champions League action this week and their squad for the knockout stages has been confirmed.
The Magpies return to Champions League action after finishing 12th in the league phase and progressing to the knockout round play-offs.
They will face Azerbaijani champions Qarabag in Baku on Wednesday evening before hosting them next Tuesday at St James' Park.
The winners of the tie will face Chelsea or Barcelona in the last-16 next month.
Newcastle's return to Champions League action and the start of the knockout stages of the competition brings with it a squad update.
Clubs were required to submit a Champions League squad for the league phase but could update it for the knockout stages. It allows clubs to tweak their squads following any injuries, new signings or player sales during the winter transfer window.
And Newcastle's squad has been subject to some minor tweaks ahead of the trip to Azerbaijan.
Newcastle United man added to Champions League squad
Newcastle have made two notable changes to their Champions League squad for the knockout stages.
The departure of goalkeeper Max Thompson to Ayr United in January left a slot open for a goalkeeper to take. UEFA rules state at least three goalkeepers must be named in a club’s Champions League squad with Thompson named as the ‘List B’ option as an Under-21s player to support Nick Pope and Aaron Ramsdale.
Aidan Harris was named as third-choice goalkeeper for Newcastle’s previous match in the Champions League at Paris Saint-Germain and is still able to be included in the squad due to being under the age of 21.
But rather than draft in an Under-21s goalkeeper as third choice, Newcastle have added John Ruddy to their Champions League squad for the knockout stages.
Ruddy had been left out of Newcastle’s Champions League squad for the league phase along with Mark Gillespie, Jamaal Lascelles and Harrison Ashby. Ashby and Lascelles left Newcastle in January to join Bradford City on loan and Leicester City, respectively.
But Ruddy’s inclusion in the Champions League squad list as a senior player comes after the withdrawal of a senior player to make room.
The Gazette has launched a new WhatsApp NUFC channel to bring the latest news, analysis and team & injury updates directly to your phone.Simply click this linkto join our NUFC WhatsApp channel.
NUFC star withdrawn from Champions League squad
The player who has made way for Ruddy is defender Emil Krafth.
The 31-year-old has been out since November with a knee injury and was understood to be close to a return when Newcastle made the trip to Marseille in the Champions League as he travelled and trained with the team before withdrawing from the squad.
He hasn’t been seen in action since with Howe providing a concerning injury update on the defender just last week.
When asked about Krafth’s fitness, the Newcastle boss gave a short response.
“Emil, at the moment, is not close,” he told The Gazette.
While Newcastle have other injuries to the likes of Fabian Schar, Tino Livramento and Bruno Guimaraes, all of whom are expected to be out for at least another few weeks, all three have been included in the Champions League squad list.
Players born on or after January 1, 2004 do not need to be named in the Champions League squad in order to be eligible to play for their club as long as they have represented the club for at least two seasons.
UEFA rules state that such players have to be included in a ‘List B’. List B is an unlimited list of player born on or after January 1, 2004 who have played for the club in question for a minimum of two years, such as Lewis Hall and Lewis Miley.
As Newcastle have no club-trained players over the age of 21, their ‘List A’ squad is reduced to 21 senior players opposed to the maximum of 25.
NUFC Champions League squad list
Here is Newcastle United’s confirmed List A for the Champions League knockout stages:
Goalkeepers
Nick Pope, Aaron Ramsdale, John Ruddy
Kieran Trippier, Sven Botman, Fabian Schar, Malick Thiaw, Tino Livramento, Dan Burn
Midfielders
Joelinton, Sandro Tonali, Joe Willock, Bruno Guimaraes, Jacob Ramsey, Jacob Murphy, Harvey Barnes, Anthony Elanga
Yoane Wissa, Anthony Gordon, William Osula, Nick Woltemade
Continue Reading