Official Newcastle United injury update – Availability ahead of Birmingham match and beyond | OneFootball

Official Newcastle United injury update on Friday morning.

Eddie Howe talking to journalists.

The NUFC Head Coach speaking ahead of this match against Birmingham.

Eddie Howe hoping to see his team make it twelve wins in fourteen games, in all competitions.

Having progressed to Wembley on Wednesday night, Newcastle United now hoping to follow up with progress into the FA Cup fifth round.

The NUFC Head Coach giving this Newcastle United injury update.

Pointers as to availability for this Birmingham match and beyond.

Sven Botman was subbed off late on in the Arsenal match and on Wednesday night Eddie Howe said:

“I don’t quite know what the problem was with Sven, why he had to be withdrawn. I think it was a knee issue, and we hope it’s okay, he’s such an important player. He’s still coming back to his best feeling and rhythm after a long-term injury but we certainly respect his qualities. We felt today that it was just a must that we got him in the team with his physicality, with his strength and his ball playing ability. I was very, very pleased with his performance, but of course we need to check the injury and check he’s okay.”

Now this Friday morning, Eddie Howe updating on the Sven Botman situation:

“Sven is not available for this weekend.

“He has taken a knock to his knee [the opposite one to his ACL injury].

“We don’t believe it is serious but enough to keep him out of the Birmingham game.”

Eddie Howe on squad rotation and looking after players to prevent unnecessary risk of injury:

“We will have to make changes, it would be a difficult ask for those players to go again, physically and mentally.

“We don’t have a huge squad in terms of depth, we will give opportunities to other players, but they will have to take their chance.

“We will use the game to share the load.

“The guys that come in need to grab that opportunity.”

So we now know that Joelinton, Sven Botman, Harvey Barnes and Jamaal Lascelles will definitely be missing from Saturday’s matchday squad.

Saturday 8 February – Birmingham v Newcastle (5.45pm) BBC1 and BBC iPlayer (FA Cup)

Saturday 15 February – Man City v Newcastle (3pm)

Sunday 23 February – Newcastle v Forest (2pm) Sky Sports

Wednesday 26 February – Liverpool v Newcastle (8.15pm) TNT Sports

(Weekend of Saturday 1 March –  NUFC will play in FA Cup fifth round if getting past Birmingham)

Monday 10 March – West Ham v Newcastle (8pm) Sky Sports