Newcastle United has been dealt a significant blow with defender Tino Livramento set to be sidelined for up to eight weeks due to a knee injury. The 22-year-old England international was carried off the field during Sunday’s 2-1 defeat by Arsenal at St James’ Park, leaving the team and fans in distress.
Head coach Eddie Howe admitted that the early prognosis did not look promising. It is now understood that Livramento could potentially miss up to 11 matches, including crucial Champions League fixtures against Union Saint-Gilloise, Benfica, Athletic Bilbao and Marseille. His absence will also be felt in England’s World Cup qualifiers against Latvia, Serbia and Albania as well as a friendly match against Wales.
The Magpies are next scheduled for Premier League action this Sunday against Nottingham Forest before their trip to Brighton on October 18.
Impact on team formation
While the injury is not as severe as initially feared, it still comes as a huge setback for Howe. He had brought Livramento from Southampton for £32million during the summer of 2023 primarily as a right-back but has seen him fill in more than adequately on the left in recent months.
Livramento's extended absence leaves Lewis Hall - who missed the Arsenal game due to fatigue - as Newcastle's only specialist left-back. Central defender Dan Burn may have to step into this role given his experience playing there throughout much of his career at former club Brighton.
Managing squad rotation
This situation also complicates matters for Howe when it comes managing game time for veteran player Kieran Trippier (35). However, he does have some back-up options available with utility man Emil Krafth ready to step up if needed.
While this injury presents significant challenges ahead of key matches both domestically and internationally, it also provides an opportunity for other players to step up and prove their worth. As Newcastle prepares for its upcoming matches against Nottingham Forest and Brighton, fans will be eagerly watching to see how the team adapts to this unexpected setback.
