Newcastle United hidden injury blow kept under wraps ahead of Chelsea - 'emergency' situation explained
Newcastle United injuries: Joelinton has not featured since being forced off at Bayer Leverkusen with a groin injury.
Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe has confirmed Joelinton is nursing an ongoing groin issue ahead of Saturday’s Premier League match against Chelsea at St James’ Park (12:30pm kick-off).
The Brazilian was forced off with a groin issue in The Magpies' 2-2 draw at Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League last week and has been an unused substitute in the last two games against Sunderland and Fulham.
Lewis Miley replaced Joelinton at Leverkusen and ended up scoring a header off the bench. The 19-year-old then did the same again in the 2-1 Carabao Cup quarter-final win against Fulham on Wednesday night.
But unlike the previous two matches, Miley was deployed in the right-back position due to Newcastle’s lack of options in the area. As Joelinton nurses his groin problem, Miley Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali, Jacob Ramsey and Joe Willock have all featured in the midfield.
But there were perhaps some eyebrows raised when the Brazilian didn’t get on the pitch when Newcastle were attempting to find a way back into the game against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.
And ahead of the return to Premier League action against Chelsea at St James’ Park, Howe has shed more light on Joelinton’s situation.
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Joelinton NUFC injury update ahead of Chelsea
Howe explained: “Joe is currently nursing a groin problem. He's fit to a point.
“You know, I could possibly use him, but it would be sort of in an emergency-type situation. So, the last couple of games, I've sort of ruled that out, unless we absolutely needed maybe to defend a set play with seconds left in the game. But he's training.
“He's just maybe not executing everything that he would do normally, but he is there if we need him.”
The issue means Joelinton will be a doubt to start the game against Chelsea on Saturday. Fortunately, Newcastle have other midfield options available to cover.
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Newcastle United injury list
Heading into Saturday’s match, Newcastle are set to be without Sven Botman, Kieran Trippier, William Osula, Emil Krafth, and Dan Burn. Nick Pope is a doubt for the game, having missed the last six matches with a groin injury.
Defender Jamaal Lascelles is back in training but recovering from a recent muscle injury and hasn’t started a competitive game for the club since suffering an ACL injury in March 2024.
Lewis Hall missed the win over Fulham with a hamstring problem and is a doubt for Saturday’s match. Tino Livramento is likely to miss the game after being forced off against Fulham with a fresh knee injury.
“We've got Chelsea now coming up on Saturday, midday kick-off, no time to recover,” Howe explained. “And with a really stretched back line, I mean, losing Tino is the negative from the game, the big negative.
“We don't quite know how bad that is, but it's not looking good. It looks like a knee problem, which Tino's had issues with knee injuries before.
“So, the fact he had to come off and he's such an honest, dependable lad, that sends worrying signs, really, for his participation maybe in the Chelsea game. Let's wait and see.