Newcastle United and Fulham are both bracing for a critical Premier League clash this Saturday, but it’s not just the points on the line that have fans buzzing—it’s the mounting injury lists on both sides. As the two teams prepare to lock horns at St. James’ Park, managers Eddie Howe and Marco Silva are facing selection headaches, with a combined total of nine players ruled out and one more rated as doubtful. The stakes are high, the squads are stretched, and the storylines are as compelling as ever.
Let’s start with Newcastle United, who are coming off a tough 2-1 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion last weekend. That loss marked their second in three league games, a worrying trend for a side with European ambitions. Eddie Howe had named an unchanged starting eleven from their previous 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest, but the injury bug has been relentless. The Magpies’ slow start to the new season is being compounded by a string of absences, with several key players sidelined for the foreseeable future.
Chief among the concerns is Tino Livramento, who suffered a knee injury during a recent defeat to Arsenal. Fortunately for Newcastle, the feared ACL damage was avoided. Manager Eddie Howe offered a glimmer of hope, stating, "Tino is out of the brace, and every time I speak to him, he seems positive about his return. There are no massive changes in the timescale he was given, but he is going about his recovery well." The current prognosis suggests Livramento will be out until late November, with a possible return penciled in for either the Manchester City home fixture on November 22 or the Marseille away clash on November 25.
Lewis Hall, another promising youngster, is also on the mend. Hall felt his hamstring during Newcastle’s 4-0 Champions League victory over Union Saint-Gilloise. Howe shared some encouraging news: "His second scan was good news. We think he will be back during this period of games before the next international break. We don't know exactly when that will be, but we expect him to, if he doesn't suffer any ill effects from anything he is doing. So, good news!" Hall’s return is expected within the next couple of weeks, provided his rehabilitation stays on track.
One of the more high-profile absentees is Yoane Wissa, who joined Newcastle from Brentford for £55 million on September 1. Just over a week after his arrival, Wissa suffered a knee injury on international duty with the Democratic Republic of Congo, delaying his much-anticipated debut. Howe addressed the situation candidly: "We've seen Yoane back on the grass, which is, well, the first time on the grass, which is great to see. His knees reacted pretty well to that work so far. In terms of timelines, similar to what I said last time, nothing's changed. The specialist initially gave him a diagnosis of six to eight weeks and he's on track for that. We were obviously trying to work towards the six but it looks like it's going to be more towards the eight, but there's been no issues." Wissa’s return is now targeted for the away fixture against Brentford on November 9 or shortly thereafter.
Harrison Ashby, meanwhile, is facing a longer-term spell on the sidelines with a thigh injury. Howe lamented, "Unfortunately, at the moment Harrison is injured, and he has been injured for a period of time with a thigh injury, so we are waiting for him to be fit again." With Ashby’s return date still uncertain, Newcastle’s options at the back remain limited.
Adding to the Magpies’ woes, Sandro Tonali was absent from Monday’s training session due to illness and is a doubt for the upcoming Champions League tie against Benfica. Howe didn’t mince words: "A bit of illness with Sandro. He’ll be touch and go for the game. We’ll give him every opportunity. He’s such an important player, so we’ll use all the hours we have." The uncertainty around Tonali’s fitness only adds to the tension as Newcastle navigate a congested fixture list.
On the Fulham side, things aren’t looking much rosier. The Cottagers are desperate to halt a three-match losing streak, their most recent setback coming at the hands of Arsenal. Injuries have ravaged Marco Silva’s squad, especially at the back. Joachim Anderson pulled up with a hamstring injury against Arsenal, and Silva didn’t sugarcoat the situation: "It is a muscle injury. Something in his hamstring. We need to see if it's something more serious now. We miss the backline completely. That is our reality right now." The defensive crisis is real, with Anderson joining an already crowded treatment room.
Rodrigo Muniz has started running again but remains without a clear timescale for his return. Silva updated, "Rodrigo started running as well, but it’s difficult to have a timescale." Antonee Robinson, another key defender, is also set for a lengthy absence. As Silva explained, "Right now, I'd like to give you a time scale, but it's difficult to say. It's the type of injury that we have to see day by day. How he's going to react to the treatments, [and] all the work that is going to be in the gym." The uncertainty around Robinson’s status leaves Fulham’s backline even more vulnerable.
In midfield, Sasa Lukic is out for more than one or two weeks, currently doing rehabilitation and taking his first steps back on the pitch. Silva confirmed, "Lukic, probably more than one or two weeks. Let’s see how he is going to react. He’s on the [training] pitch but not working with the team. He’s doing some rehabilitation, starting to do some first steps on the pitch." Meanwhile, Samu Chukwueze is expected to miss at least a couple of weeks after a calf injury sustained during an international appearance for Nigeria. "Chukwueze came out of the last game for Nigeria, and today, he went for a scan. He felt something in the calf, it doesn't look really, really serious, but the reality is, he came out. Let's see how he's going to be," Silva said.
Last but not least, Tom Cairney is a major doubt for the Newcastle match after experiencing back problems against Arsenal. Silva summed up the mounting frustrations succinctly: "Even Tom Cairney is feeling some problems in his back. It is coming one after the other. The international break didn't help. We don't have enough depth to deal with these moments." With so many key players unavailable, Fulham’s depth is being tested to the limit.
As both Newcastle United and Fulham scramble to patch together competitive line-ups, Saturday’s match is shaping up to be a battle of attrition as much as skill. With so many stars on the sidelines, the outcome could hinge on which squad adapts better to adversity and which young or fringe players seize their moment in the spotlight. One thing’s for sure: when the whistle blows at St. James’ Park, there will be no shortage of drama, determination, and perhaps a few surprises. Stay tuned—this one promises to be a test of grit as much as talent.
