Newcastle United came out of Monday’s 3-2 defeat at home to Liverpool with huge respect – but no points to show for it and four players down ahead of Saturday’s 5.30pm kick-off at Leeds.
Stoppage time heartbreak aside, we lost Anthony Gordon to a red card and subsequent three-game ban, with the stand-in striker now set for another spell on the sidelines after his second dismissal of 2025.
Fabian Schar was forced off due to a concussion, with midfield duo Sandro Tonali (shoulder) and Joelinton (groin) also limping off with injuries that “don’t look good”, according to Eddie Howe’s early post-match assessment.
The good news, via Sky Sports’ Keith Downie and an Instagram post from big Joe’s wife, is that we may have avoided long-term injuries, but concussion rules will rule Schar out, with Saturday also set to come too soon for Tonali and Joelinton.
Who comes in?
Malick Thiaw replaced Schar on Monday night and we are likely to see the former AC Milan centre-back come in for his first start of the season at Elland Road.
In midfield, Jacob Ramsey looks nailed on to step into the Joelinton role on the left side of a midfield three, with Lewis Miley primed to replace Tonali as the teenager looks to gain more first team minutes this season.
Up top, it’s tricky to say what Eddie Howe will do. With no Alexander Isak, Callum Wilson released, Gordon banned and a new striker highly unlikely to arrive before Friday’s 12pm cut-off, will the boss give Will Osula a rare start after his goal on Monday, or bring Jacob Murphy into the side, meaning Anthony Elanga in a false nine role?
A formation change may even be one to watch – Botman and Thiaw could come into a 3-5-2 which sees Barnes and Elanga paired up top – but we’ll have to get creative somehow, with at least four changes likely this weekend.
I really hope Jacob Ramsey takes his chance well. I think he is the ideal Joelinton replacement/rotation option going forward and could be huge for us in the future.
SF(Quote)
Good Lord,
With those players out + Isak + no c/f signing, we’re down to scraping the barrel after TWO games!! What hope have we got in the next SIXTY or so games?
The incompetence of entering the transfer window with nobody in charge is absolutely criminal. I though PIF had made stunningly good signings 18 months ago – they look like petrified amateurs now. NUFC clearly the laughing stock of the EPL over striker transfers, and it ain’t finished yet!
What a shower.
davewallace(Quote)
Dave – I think losing 4 starting players in one game is a rarity. It looks like all 4 lads will be back within a months time so I think we’ll be fine for the next 56 games…
We aren’t scraping the bottom of the barrel, we’re playing the lads we’ve just bought. Yes we should have had a DOF, but to sign 4 key players in this window is good business, especially with an empty boardroom.
Keep the faith.
SF(Quote)
Bring Ivan Toney back to the premier league. Probs cost less than Wissa and is similar age.
DR Toonman(Quote)
Totally agree with all of the comments and feelings of the loyal supporters @ fans 6we have been seriously let down by the Board of Directors not taking action earlier to get a director of operations to assist Eddie Howe and a top guy to select and bring in more quality players like those we have just brought into the club nearly at the end of transfer close we now have to rely upon the few last signings to beat Leeds on Monday evening who are playing at home Elland Road not an easy game by all means. The effort that the team put in against Liverpool on Monday evening was simply outstanding every player that played gave everything they had simply amazing Bill Fish
Bill FIsh(Quote)
Get a centre forward possibly 2 and Looking at the players coming in for injured players and we will have a very good squad
Bonnylad(Quote)