Newcastle United hit by sickness bug ahead of Manchester United clash | OneFootball

Newcastle United’s preparations for their crucial clash against Manchester United have been thrown into disarray after a sickness bug swept through the squad, compounding an already severe injury crisis for Eddie Howe.

Speaking to the media on Tuesday morning, Howe revealed that German international Nick Woltemade is a major doubt for Wednesday’s match.

Woltemade, who has become a key figure for the Magpies in his new role, has not trained since the weekend after falling ill.

There is some positive news in midfield, however, as Jacob Ramsey appears to have recovered from the bug that forced him off at half-time during Saturday’s 3-2 loss to Everton.

Ramsey trained on Monday without issue and is expected to start.

Tino Livramento is nearing a return from a hamstring injury, but Wednesday is expected to come too soon for the right-back, leaving the veteran Kieran Trippier likely to shoulder the load once again.

The sickness bug is the last thing Howe needed, given the length of his current absentee list.

Newcastle are already without Bruno Guimaraes, who is continuing his hamstring rehabilitation, and teenage star Lewis Miley, who remains sidelined with a complex thigh injury.

Defensively, the Magpies are down to the bare bones, with Fabian Schar (ankle) and Emil Krafth (knee) also both ruled out—the latter likely for the remainder of the season.

With Manchester United arriving on Tyneside on a seven-game unbeaten streak under Michael Carrick, Newcastle find themselves in a must-win scenario to keep their European ambitions alive.

Howe’s ability to patch together a competitive XI in the face of recent fitness concerns will be tested to the limit as the lights go up at St James’ Park.