UEFA rules ban Newcastle United star from playing in the Champions League after Qarabag incident
Newcastle United team news: Malick Thiaw is one of several players unavailable for Newcastle in the Champions League this week.
Newcastle United return to Champions League action at St James’ Park this week as they host Qarabag in their knockout round play-off second leg match.
The Magpies won the first leg 6-1 in Baku last week thanks to goals from Malick Thiaw, Jacob Murphy and four from Anthony Gordon.
The five-goal advantage means Newcastle are almost certain of progressing to the last-16 in the Champions League where they will face either Chelsea or Barcelona over two legs.
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NUFC star banned for Champions League clash
While Thiaw got to celebrate his first Champions League goal for Newcastle in the first leg, he won’t get the opportunity to feature in the second leg having picked up a booking later in the match.
It was the third time that Thiaw had been shown a yellow card in the Champions League this season, meaning he will now serve a one-match ban. But if there was any knockout match to miss, it’s one where you hold a five-goal advantage.
Howe was asked whether it was a blessing of sorts to have Thiaw serve his suspension in a game where Newcastle could make several changes and still expect to progress comfortably, given their first-leg advantage.
But the Newcastle boss refuted that suggestion and instead highlighted his lack of options at centre-back with Sven Botman a doubt and Fabian Schar already ruled out in addition to Thiaw’s suspension.
“No, I don't see it as a blessing,” Howe said. “I see that as a negative because we're really stretched in that position. Of course, it gives us no debate.
“We have to give Malick a rest. He's probably going to need that for a while.
“In some senses, that could be a positive thing for him, but I don't think it's a positive for the team.”
It will end a run of 38 successive starts for Thiaw since his full Newcastle debut. But he will be back available for Saturday’s Premier League match against Everton as well as the anticipated last-16 matches in the Champions League.
But there are still some Newcastle players who are at risk of suspension.
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Newcastle United duo at risk of Champions League ban
Whilst Thiaw will sit out of the return leg at St James’ Park, two of his teammates will be forced to walk a disciplinary tightrope. Both Joelinton and Dan Burn have been shown two yellow cards this season in the Champions League and need to avoid another booking on Tuesday night if they want to feature in the first-leg of the last-16.
Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali, Aaron Ramsdale, Joe Willock, Anthony Elanga and Anthony Gordon, meanwhile, are the only other Magpies players who have been shown a yellow card in the Champions League this season.
Those players would have to be booked a further two times in order to face a ban. Yellow cards are wiped after the quarter-final stage to ensure players cannot miss the final because of an accumulation of bookings.
In addition to Thiaw, Newcastle will also be without Guimaraes, Lewis Miley, Tino Livramento and Fabian Schar due to injury. Yoane Wissa and Botman are doubts for the match while Mark Gillespie and Emil Krafth are ineligible having been left out of the Champions League squad list.