Newcastle United confirm ‘top’ player will definitely miss Manchester United clash in blow for Eddie Howe..
Newcastle United will not have a fully fit squad to face Manchester United on Sunday.
That comes as no surprise, as it remains unclear when Lewis Hall, Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles will be fit again.
However, there is some positive news. Anthony Gordon could return from his injury against Manchester United, while Alexander Isak is expected to be involved.
But while Gordon could be about to return to the Newcastle United fold, it is a different story for ‘top’ player Joe Willock.
Photo by George Wood/Getty Images
Photo by George Wood/Getty Images
Why Joe Willock will miss Newcastle United vs Manchester United
Willock missed Newcastle United’s 3-0 win over Leicester City due to a concussion.
The same concussion will now force Willock to miss the Manchester United game too, as protocols force the midfielder to sit out a second game in a row.
That is a blow for Eddie Howe, as Willock is a great option to have on the bench. The 25-year-old can be a game-changer with his speed and dribbling ability, but will sadly not be allowed to play against Man United on Sunday.
That means that Howe will have to rely on Sean Longstaff and Lewis Miley as his midfield understudies, with Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton expected to start once again at St James’ Park.
Willock was Newcastle’s hero against Man United in 2023
Two years ago it was Willock who helped decide Newcastle United vs Manchester United.
Weeks after losing the 2023 Carabao Cup final against the Red Devils, Howe’s side had the chance to get revenge in the Premier League.
Before that game, Howe gave an inspiring team talk. It worked, as the Magpies beat Man United 2-0 to strengthen their Champions League charge.
Newcastle were exceptional that day, with Willock playing a pivotal role in the victory. He scored Newcastle’s opener in the second half, heading home what was a beautiful move.
Willock set his side on their way to a huge victory in April 2023, but will not be involved in the same fixture two years later.
Liverpool set to be left embarrassed as Newcastle United’s £32m risk pays off spectacularly..
Newcastle United’s transfer strategy has been pretty spectacular since the change of ownership.
While PSR has limited Newcastle United’s ability to invest over the past few windows, the players who the Magpies have brought in have done incredibly well.
The Toon recruitment team have taken calculated gambles, buying players at the right time. Anthony Gordon is a great example of that, while even Alexander Isak was a gamble to a certain extent given the fact he had not played in England.
Newcastle also took a risk when they spent £32million on Tino Livramento. They bought the right-back from Southampton in the summer of 2023, investing heavily in a player who would go on to become Kieran Trippier’s replacement.
Eddie Howe was future-proofing his squad, but it was a gamble.
Photo by DARREN STAPLES/AFP via Getty Images
Photo by DARREN STAPLES/AFP via Getty Images
Liverpool had doubts over Tino Livramento
The move came on the back of Livramento recovering from an ACL injury which cost him just over a year of his career.
That represented a risk, but Newcastle were confident that Livramento’s game was not going to suffer despite enduring such a nasty injury.
That confidence was not shared elsewhere, with the Athletic reporting that both Arsenal and Liverpool were put off signing the defender as they had doubts over what he would be like when he recovered.
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