Newcastle United have received a measure of positive news regarding key defender Fabian Schär, who suffered a distressing ankle injury during the team’s dramatic 4–3 Premier League victory over Leeds United earlier this week.
Manager Eddie Howe confirmed initial assessments indicate the 34-year-old Swiss international has avoided a fracture, but is expected to be sidelined with ligament damage.
Schar was stretchered off the pitch during the match, prompting immediate concern for a player who has been a mainstay in Newcastle’s defense. Speaking ahead of the club’s FA Cup third-round tie against Bournemouth, Howe provided a cautiously optimistic update. “Hopefully not too bad, or maybe not as bad as it first looked,” the manager stated.
“He’s obviously got an injury there but no break. We think it’s just ligament damage but he’s seeing a specialist in the next few days to get some definitive answers, but maybe more positive than the initial assessment”. While the club is confident Schär will play again this season, his absence deals a significant blow to a backline already stretched thin by injuries.
The timing exacerbates a defensive crisis for Howe. Central defender Dan Burn is progressing from rib and lung injuries but remains “a few weeks away” from full training, with the manager noting Burn is “running, he’s out on the grass” but that it is “one we have to be careful with”.
Fellow center-back Jamaal Lascelles is not training with the squad, with Howe revealing the club captain “hasn’t felt well enough physically to train” and that “there’s a possibility that he could leave”. This leaves Sven Botman, recently returned from his own injury layoff, and Malick Thiaw as the only fully fit senior center-halves.
In response to the shortage, 18-year-old Lewis Miley has been deployed in defense, earning high praise from his manager for an “outstanding” performance against Leeds. “I see his long-term position in midfield, but we will use him wherever the team needs,” Howe said, acknowledging the teenager’s vital flexibility during the injury crisis.
The manager described the club’s current approach to the January transfer window as a “watching brief,” indicating defensive reinforcements are being considered but not yet guaranteed.
The immediate focus shifts to navigating a packed fixture list, beginning with the FA Cup match against Bournemouth. Howe emphasized the need for singular focus, calling the competition “magical” while acknowledging the difficulty of early-round ties sandwiched between critical league games.
With a Premier League clash against Manchester City and a Champions League knockout stage on the horizon, Newcastle’s resilience will be tested as they aim to maintain their momentum in multiple competitions despite a severely depleted defense.