Newcastle hit with triple injury blow for Manchester City semi-final clash | OneFootball

Manchester City will take on a heavily depleted Newcastle United side at the Etihad Stadium this week following the emergence of a triple injury blow in Eddie Howe’s side.

The Carabao Cup semi-final second leg arrives at a pivotal moment for both clubs, but it is Manchester City who appear better placed as preparations intensify, holding a 2-0 advantage from the first leg.

And recent developments from the Newcastle camp suggest the task facing the visitors has become even steeper, as City themselves aim to build momentum once more after a disappointing 2-2 draw away at Tottenham on Sunday afternoon.

With Ruben Dias returning to training this week and defensive options strengthened in the market through the arrivals of Marc Guehi and Max Alleyne, Guardiola’s options allow for rotation and tactical flexibility as the business end of the season intensifies.

By contrast, Newcastle’s campaign has been increasingly disrupted by fitness issues, with manager Eddie Howe frequently forced into reshuffles, limiting the Magpies’ ability to sustain intensity across multiple fronts.

Now, as relayed by Sky Sports’ Keith Downie, a trio of Bruno Guimarães, Joelinton, and Lewis Miley will all be missing for Newcastle United at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night, while Sven Botman could be available against Manchester City.

The aforementioned trio join Fabian Schar, Tino Livramento and Emil Krafth on the sidelines, although the return of the Dutch central defender will no doubt come as a huge boost to the Magpies’ future options.

From a tactical perspective, the absence of Guimarães and Joelinton significantly weakens Newcastle’s midfield in terms of ball progression and physical duels, handing City a clear opportunity to exploit gaps.

While Sven Botman’s potential return offers some encouragement, it remains unclear how sharp the defender will be after time out, particularly against elite opposition, and a side hungry to make amends after their latest top-flight slip-up.

Looking ahead, Manchester City will be aiming to turn their advantage in terms of the scoreline into a controlled performance that secures a place in the final, where they will face the winner of the other semi-final between Arsenal and Chelsea.