Earlier today, Eddie Howe shared a mixed injury update on Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall heading into tomorrow’s clash with Chelsea.
Tino is out for a ‘few weeks’, and we’ll still be without Dan Burn, Sven Botman, Kieran Trippier, Emil Krafth, Jamal Lascelles and Will Osula against Enzo Maresca’s side.
In better news, however, Hall is hoping to return after a midweek rest for hamstring fatigue, with Nick Pope also close to make the squad after six games out, having returned to full training sessions this week.
It doesn’t sound like Joelinton will be starting, though. The Brazilian is training, but Howe hinted on Friday morning (see his comments below) that he’ll give the big man a “few more days” to fully recover before throwing him into his team.
With that in mind, and Lewis Miley likely to be needed at right-back, we can expect one of Jacob Ramsey and Joe Willock to join Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali in our midfield three.
As for Chelsea, Moises Caicedo returns after missing their last three league games following his red card against Arsenal, with the visitors also boosted by Cole Palmer’s return to fitness. He was rested in their cup quarter-final against Cardiff on Tuesday, so I’d expect him to start.
Howe on Joelinton – “He’s not too bad. He’s training. I am taking advice from the medical team. They say he can be involved, but whether I push him to start a game at the moment…my intention is probably to let him recover a few more days and then see when he’s ready to start.”
Howe on Hall – “He could be [involved v Chelsea]. He felt some fatigue in his hamstring after the Sunderland game. It was more a couple of days after. He had a scan and it didn’t reveal too much so let’s see.”
Howe on Pope – “He is probably the closest of all the injured players (to returning). He’s doing well. Back on the grass; training, driving, kicking. Whether he makes this game, I’m not sure.
Howe on Lascelles – “Jamaal isn’t feeling great in his body at the moment, so I don’t think that’s an option for us.”
Howe on Livramento – “We don’t think it’s serious. The complication we have is Tino has injured that knee before in a very similar area. So I don’t think we’ll see him possibly before 2026. It’s a minor injury, but it’ll probably keep him out for a few weeks.”
why did he continue to play Tino with no rest after coming back from the last knee injury? makes no sense
Hendo(Quote)
Because Krafth, Tripps, Lascelles and Botman were all injured so there weren’t many options
Keith(Quote)