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Newcastle United are light on senior defenders for their Champions League clash at home to Qarabag.
The Magpies lead 6-1 from the first-leg win in Azerbaijan on Wednesday after Anthony Gordon scored four goals, while Malick Thiaw and Jacob Murphy were also on the scoresheet.
Eddie Howe’s side didn’t land back on Tyneside until the early hours of Thursday morning before travelling to Manchester City on Saturday night, where they suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat.
Newcastle United star ruled out v Qarabag due to UEFA rules
Newcastle’s squad is understood to have come through the match at the Etihad unscathed but UEFA suspension rules mean they will be without Thiaw for the midweek clash.
The German centre-back’s yellow card in the first leg was his third in the Champions League this season, forcing him to serve a one-match ban.
Thiaw will get a rare rest, having started the last 38 matches in a row. But Howe, even with a five-goal advantage, does not view his ineligibility as a positive due to the number of defensive injuries.
“No, I don't see it as a blessing,” Howe said. “I see it as a negative because we're really stretched in that position.
“Of course it gives us no debate, we have to give Malick a rest. He's probably been in need of that for a while, so in some senses that could be a positive, but I don't think it's a positive for the team.”
Sven Botman a doubt for Newcastle United v Qarabag
Howe had hoped to have Sven Botman available but the Dutchman remains a doubt after he missed a third game in a row with a back issue.
Botman was expected to be part of the squad that faced Man City at the weekend but “didn’t feel 100%” on the eve of the game.
Howe told NewcastleWorld: “Yes, we thought he was going to be available yesterday [Friday], but he just didn't feel 100% right, so we didn't want to take any chances with him.
“We hope he'll be available on Tuesday, but that's not 100% clear currently.”
Newcastle United under-21s duo on standby
With Thiaw suspended, Botman a doubt and Tino Livramento, Fabian Schar and Emil Krafth ruled out through injury, Newcastle could have just three senior defenders available against Qarabag in Kieran Trippier, Dan Burn and Lewis Hall.
Playing senior players out of a position is one other, but the other could see Alex Murphy or Leo Shahar called into the starting XI.
21-year-old Murphy, who can cover at left-back and centre-half, has featured as a substitute on four occasions this campaign, while Shahar, 18, has regularly appeared on the bench but is yet to make his senior debut.
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