Newcastle United’s defensive problems have deepened after Tino Livramento was ruled out for up to two months with a hamstring injury, head coach Eddie Howe confirmed on Tuesday. The setback comes at a critical point in the season as the Magpies juggle a congested fixture list in the Premier League, FA Cup, and European competitions.

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Livramento Injury Adds to Newcastle’s Defensive Concerns

The 23-year-old full-back was forced to hobble off during Newcastle’s dramatic FA Cup penalty shootout win against Bournemouth on Saturday at St James’ Park. This follows his recent return from a knee injury, which had sidelined him earlier this month. Howe expressed his disappointment for the England international, stating he was “absolutely devastated for him because he’s worked so hard to come back.”

Livramento, who has made 19 appearances for Newcastle United this season and earned three England caps, now faces a race against time to regain full fitness before the March internationals against Japan and Uruguay.

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Newcastle’s Defensive Options Already Stretched

The injury leaves Newcastle light on defensive options. Dan Burn, Fabian Schär, and Emil Krafth are already sidelined, compounding Howe’s challenges at the back. The Magpies’ head coach highlighted the situation following Newcastle’s 2-0 Carabao Cup semi-final first-leg defeat to Manchester City, emphasizing that the squad’s defensive resources are “really stretched.”

Howe said:

“We’re pinning our hopes on Dan being back pretty soon. That would give us a massive lift and, of course, the transfer market is still available to us.”

Burn, who sustained a broken rib and punctured lung in the Tyne-Wear derby against Sunderland, could return before the end of January, offering some relief for Howe.

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Potential Solutions and Transfer Market Considerations

While Newcastle could recall Matt Targett, currently on loan at Middlesbrough, Howe has also highlighted the limitations of the mid-season transfer window. Any short-term acquisition could affect the club’s summer plans when there may be better players available at greater value. Howe has questioned whether the “right player” is obtainable in January, underlining the difficulty of finding an immediate solution.

For now, Newcastle’s senior defensive options are limited to:

• Malick Thiaw
• Sven Botman
• Lewis Hall
• Kieran Trippier
• Lewis Miley (midfielder temporarily filling in at right-back)

These constraints come at a challenging period, with Newcastle facing a demanding schedule over the next 24 days, including matches against Wolves, PSV Eindhoven, Aston Villa (twice), Paris Saint-Germain, Liverpool, Manchester City, Brentford, and Tottenham.

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Impact on Newcastle’s Season

Livramento’s absence, coupled with other injuries, leaves Newcastle vulnerable defensively during a crucial run of fixtures in both domestic and European competitions. Howe will need to balance player rotation, tactical adjustments, and potential January signings to navigate this difficult period successfully.

The Magpies’ defensive resilience will be tested, and fans will be watching closely to see whether Howe can maintain Newcastle’s competitiveness despite this significant blow.