Newcastle United has less than two weeks remaining before its Premier League campaign begins against Liverpool, leaving Matthias Jaissle with just a handful of preseason training reps left to get his squad healthy and ready following a disrupted summer by both transfers and injuries.
Left-back Lewis Hall left Newcastle’s training camp in Spain in early August, but that was deemed just a precautionary move, so he will surely be available to face Liverpool — if he remains a Magpie by then — after already featuring against Everton on Wednesday, but right-back Tino Livramento is set to miss the Aug. 23 matchup as he continues his rehabilitation.
“Newcastle expect midfielder Lewis Miley to be fit for the season opener against Liverpool after recovering from a broken leg, but the game will come too soon for Tino Livramento,” Hope and Jones reported.
The Daily Mail also included Lewis Miley in the update, reporting Newcastle expects him to be fit against the Reds after recovering from a broken leg.
The Athletic’s Chris Waugh had already reported before the Everton friendly that Hall was scheduled to resume training on Tyneside and could feature at some point during Newcastle’s final preseason games before the start of the campaign.
“The trio is continuing fitness work at The Knox, Newcastle’s training centre, according to the club,” Waugh reported. “Hall is set to train on Tyneside on Sunday and may return for Wednesday’s friendly against Everton at Murrayfield, in Edinburgh, or for one of the two practice matches at St James’ Park next weekend.”
Livramento’s situation is more definitive. The 23-year-old has been sidelined since suffering the calf injury that forced him to withdraw from England’s World Cup squad, and Hope and Jones report he is currently continuing his rehabilitation away from Newcastle.
“The England defender is currently in the United States as he continues his rehabilitation from the calf injury that ruled him out of the World Cup,” Hope and Jones reported. “He could return on the second weekend of the campaign at Tottenham.”
That timetable would rule Livramento out against Liverpool but potentially have him available when Newcastle visits Tottenham on MD 2, provided his recovery continues as expected.
Newcastle was already looking to reinforce the full-back positions before the transfer window closes, and this news will only amplify the need for incoming transfers to bolster them.
For now, Newcastle appears likely to enter the Liverpool game without Livramento while hoping Hall can stay fit and get enough preseason work under his belt to be ready for the opener.
