Nick Woltemade of Newcastle United (C) acknowledges the fans as he walks out with team mates Anthony Gordon (L) and Sandro Tonali (R) prior to the Premier League match between Manchester United and Newcastle United at Old Trafford on December 26, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)placeholder image
Nick Woltemade of Newcastle United (C) acknowledges the fans as he walks out with team mates Anthony Gordon (L) and Sandro Tonali (R) prior to the Premier League match between Manchester United and Newcastle United at Old Trafford on December 26, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Newcastle United team news ahead of the Champions League play-off second-leg clash against Qarabag.
Newcastle United host Qarabag on Tuesday night in the second-leg of their Champions League play-off.
The Magpies lead 6-1 from the first-leg win in Azerbaijan thanks to four goals from Anthony Gordon and a goal in either half from Malick Thiaw and Jacob Murphy.
With a five-goal advantage, United are almost certain to progress into the last 16, where they will face either Barcelona or Chelsea, but Eddie Howe insists he won’t be preparing any differently.
Eddie Howe on his Newcastle United team selection
“I think we'll look at the squad and try and pick a strong team who want to win the game,” Howe said on his team selection. “So that's the first target is to win.
“In some senses, we want to keep a good rhythm with the players. I think it's a really delicate balance we've got between rotating the squad and making sure everyone's fresh to winning the game and also making sure players don't lose rhythm.
“We don't lose the good feeling that we've had, so I'll try and pick the right team, taking all the information into consideration that we have.”
Malick Thiaw ruled out but two players could return
Malick Thiaw started Newcastle’s 2-1 defeat away to Manchester City in the Premier League on Saturday night in what was his 38th consecutive start.
However, that run will come to an end tomorrow night as he serves a one-match ban as a result of picking up three yellow cards in the Champions League this campaign.
“It's going to be a blow for us,” Howe said. “I said that when the suspension was confirmed, a big loss for us at the heart of our defence.
“I think Malick has been hugely impressive this season, model of consistency. I actually think the last few games, again, has been some of his strongest of the season. I think he's, considering the amount of games he's played, he's really, really good in that sense.
“I think on the ball, he's come back to being at his very best level. Offensively, he's been superb.
“I think he's been an incredible signing for us. He's a great lad as well, settled in really quickly to the group. So, yes, he'll be a miss but, fingers crossed, it's just one more game.”
But as Thiaw drops out, Howe is hopeful Sven Botman will return after he trained on Monday afternoon. The Dutchman has missed the last three matches with a back issue.
55million summer signing Yoane Wissa could also return after he was spotted in training having missed the last three matches with a “nasty knock”.
Howe said: “We hope so, we’ll wait and see how they both wake up tomorrow. But fingers crossed they’ll both be involved.”
Sandro Tonali & Anthony Gordon training absence explained
Two players who weren’t spotted in training were key duo Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon, prompting fears over their injury status, but Howe says there is “no real issue”.
He said: “There were a few players that we just kept inside today, no real issue, four or five players I think we just wanted to look after.”
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