Newcastle injuries: Latest Botman & Miley news and potential return dates
- Newcastle have had rotten luck with injuries this season
- Sven Botman has once again struggled with setbacks
- Lewis Miley and Joe Willock to miss remainder of the campaign
The added strain of the Champions League has undoubtedly had a large bearing on Newcastle United this season.
Eddie Howe's side benefited from a continental absence last term as injuries failed to compromise the Magpies' charge towards a top-four spot. However, with the increased workload of European football, Newcastle's absences piled up during the first half of the campaign.
However, the injuries haven't stopped since their European exit, with the Magpies left cursing their woeful luck as their list of absentees grows with each passing week.
Here are the latest injury updates regarding Newcastle's players and when each could return to action.
Newcastle injuries
Sven Botman
- Issue: ACL injury
- Potential Return: Late 2024
Terrible news came for Newcastle during the March international break with Sven Botman suffering an ACL injury that rules him out of action for between six and nine months. The Dutchman had not looked himself since returning from another long-term injury this season, and now he faces a very long spell on the sidelines again.
The Dutchman picked up the injury in the FA Cup against Manchester City and had to wait for scans before the full extent was known. He will require surgery, and then a long recovery period, meaning Howe must make do without him for the rest of the season.
Lewis Miley
- Issue: Back injury
- Potential Return: Summer 2024
The other major casualty from the March international break for Newcastle was Lewis Miley. The young midfielder was selected for England's U21s but he injured his back and will be out of action for the rest of the season.
"The decision was made on Lewis to protect him long-term," Howe said. "We won't see Lewis again this season. Even if there was a chance, we took that away quite early on with his age, we are just thinking about his long-term prospects.
"He's done brilliantly, but with the back problem he has, rest is the way to go."
The 17-year-old has been excellent for Newcastle this season and has picked up the slack left by other injured or underperforming Newcastle players.
Sandro Tonali
- Issue: Betting suspension
- Potential Return: August 2024
There's no injury to Sandro Tonali to be concerned about but the Italian midfielder has already played his final game of the 2023/24 campaign.
Tonali is serving a ten-month suspension for gambling breaches which means Newcastle supporters won't be seeing their star summer arrival in action until the start of the 2024/25 season. The midfielder will also miss Euro 2024.
Fabian Schar
- Issue: Hamstring injury
- Potential Return: Euro 2024
The Swiss defender has been forced to deal with his fair share of niggles this season, but Schar has nonetheless enjoyed a pretty good campaign at the heart of Newcastle's defence.
He's been pivotal given their defensive absences, but he's unlikely to feature during the Magpies' final few games of the campaign after he picked up a hamstring injury in the 5-1 win over Sheffield United.
Schar will aim to be fit for the start of Euro 2024.
Jamaal Lascelles
- Issue: ACL injury
- Potential Return: January 2025
Lascelles was a casualty of the victory over West Ham in late March and limped off at St James' Park with just 17 minutes played. Scans showed that the defender had ruptured his ACL, meaning he may not play again in 2024.
Speaking about Lascelles' devastating setback, Howe stated: "Initially, for a player, it’s difficult to accept that you’re faced with a long period of rehab. He’s had his operating, and that was successful, so he’s already on the road to recovery."
Joe Willock
- Issue: Achilles injury
- Potential Return: Summer 2024
Willock has had unbelievably bad luck with injuries since his move to Tyneside and can't seem to shake an Achilles problem. The midfielder was substituted after just 40 minutes against Fulham in April with a recurrence of his heel injury, and Howe has ruled him out for the rest of the season.
"We have decided that a period where [Willock] strengthens the area around his Achilles will benefit him more. The long-term view was taken, we will get him right for next season," the Newcastle boss said.
"We went to see a specialist and they said we had a few options. He could continue to play but I think the longer-term view was taken.
"Surgery wouldn't be beneficial for him in this situation. It is frustrating for Joe, but hopefully we can get to the situation where he is playing freely next season."
Matt Targett
- Issue: Achilles tendonitis
- Potential Return: Summer 2024
Similarly to many of his teammates, Targett has also seen injuries impact his availability for much of the campaign.
He played two games in March after four months out of action but is now back on the sidelines with Achilles tendonitis. His season is likely over.
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