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Newcastle defender who played vs Aston Villa could miss the rest of season
Ciaran Kelly
2 – 3 minutes
Matt Targett’s season could be over after the Newcastle United defender suffered a ‘slight’ hamstring issue.
Targett has endured a series of unfortunate setbacks in the last year-and-a-half. The full-back was first sidelined with a nasty hamstring injury in November, 2023 and went on to tear his achilles in the spring.
Targett missed all of Newcastle’s pre-season games last summer, as a result, but the 29-year-old returned to action for the reserves in August with no issues. However, Targett then suffered an eczema flare-up, which ‘knocked him for six’, and led to the National Eczema Society issuing a statement to explain that dealing with one can be ‘painful, exhausting and draining both physically and mentally’.
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Targett put that behind him, though, and made his first senior appearance in more than a year on Boxing Day. Targett has since played a further four games, and even came on against former club Aston Villa just nine days ago, but boss Eddie Howe has revealed the defender has now joined fellow left-back Lewis Hall in the treatment room.
“We also lost Matt Targett this week to a slight hamstring problem,” Howe told NUFC TV. “Again nothing serious but maybe enough to end his season.”
Although Newcastle are looking light of natural options, Tino Livramento has filled in superbly at left-back since Hall’s campaign was curtailed by a foot injury while Dan Burn and Kieran Trippier can play there if required. Newcastle also have just four games remaining as the third-placed black-and-whites bid to qualify for the Champions League.
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Newcastle United handed major injury boost hours before Ipswich Town as £38m duo spotted at St James’ Park
Dominic Scurr
4 – 5 minutes
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Newcastle United have been handed a major injury boost with Sven Botman back in the matchday squad after almost two months out.
Botman returned to training ahead of Saturday’s Premier League match against Ipswich Town at St James’ Park and is back invovled in the Newcastle squad. Team news will be confirmed at 1:45pm.
Fabian Schar is also with the squad after being withdrawn in Newcastle’s 4-1 defeat at Aston Villa last time out with a hamstring issue. Botman hasn’t featured for the club since picking up a knee injury in the 2-0 Carabao Cup semi-final second leg win over Arsenal back in February.
Botman was thought to be close to a return before undergoing surgery that ultimately delayed his return to action. But now the defender is back in training and could get back on the pitch this afternoon.
Newcastle host Ipswich knowing a win would take them back up to third in the Premier League table. But anything other than a win for Ipswich on Saturday (3pm kick-off) would mathematically relegate them with four games still to play.
Sven Botman injury latest after training return
Botman has been sidelined for over 11 weeks with a knee injury that initially wasn’t suspected to be serious but ultimately required surgery. The 25-year-old has started just five games for Newcastle this season due to an ACL injury followed by his latest knee issue but reports from the club have been positive in recent weeks.
The defender has returned to training at Newcastle and will be pushing to return to the starting line-up before the end of the season.
But on Friday, Howe stressed that it was ‘still very early stages’ for the defender before including him in the matchday squad.
“Sven’s trained well this week and it’s been great to see him back on the grass,” Howe said. “So, yeah, really, really pleased with how he looked. It’s still very early stages for him, but back training with the group is a big step.”
Fabian Schar hamstring injury
Schar has scored in each of Newcastle’s last two Premier League matches but was withdrawn after finding the net at Villa Park.
After the game Tindall said: “Fabi was feeling his hamstring in the game, so he felt it was the wise move to bring him off and to try and protect him, to make sure that hopefully he’s okay for the remaining games.”
Although the Swiss defender hasn’t been spotted in training this week, Howe provided a small but promising update in his pre-match press conference.
He simply said: “Fabian, we hope will be okay [to play v Ipswich].”
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NUFC v Ipswich injury & team news
Ipswich sit 18th, 15 points adrift of West Ham United in 17th with five games left to play and significantly worse goal difference. Even if Ipswich were to pull of a surprise win at St James’ Park on Saturday, there’s a feeling that it would only prolong the inevitable.
Both teams head into the match with some injury concerns. Ipswich will be without Kalvin Phillips, Sammie Szmodics, Jaden Philogene, Arijanet Muric, Omari Hutchinson, Chiedozie Ogbene and Wes Burns. Boyhood Newcastle fan Leif Davis has also been denied a St James’ Park appearance due to suspension.
Newcastle’s absentee list isn’t quite as long with Lewis Hall and Jamaal Lascelles the only confirmed absentees. Lascelles will be looking to be back in contention before the end of the season after more than a year out with an ACL injury while Hall is targeting a pre-season return following foot surgery.
Newcastle United predicted line-up
Newcastle have named an unchanged line-up for each of their last seven Premier League.
“The team has been unchanged because the team’s performed really well,” Howe said ahead of the match. “That was a difficult week, three games in six days. But there’s certainly no fatigue for this game. So, I will pick what I think is the strongest team. It gives us the best chance to win the game.”
Predicted line-up v Ipswich: Pope; Trippier, Schar, Burn, Livramento; Tonali, Guimaraes, Willock; Murphy, Barnes, Isak
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Newcastle United Star Lewis Hall Ruled Out for the Season – What’s Behind the Shocking Decision?
Newcastle United’s preparations for the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool have been dealt a devastating blow, as star defender Lewis Hall has been ruled out for the remainder of the season.
The news has sent shockwaves through the Magpies’ camp, with fans and pundits alike scrambling to understand the reasons behind Hall’s sudden absence.
According to sources close to the club, Hall’s injury is a significant one, and the decision to rule him out for the season was not taken lightly.
“Lewis is a key player for us, and his absence will be deeply felt,” said a Newcastle United insider. “However, the medical team has made it clear that his injury requires extensive rehabilitation, and we cannot risk rushing him back onto the pitch.”
The loss of Hall is a major blow to Newcastle United’s hopes of lifting the Carabao Cup, and manager Eddie Howe will need to rethink his strategy ahead of the final against Liverpool.
One thing is certain, however: Newcastle United will need to dig deep and find a way to overcome this latest setback if they are to achieve success this season.
