Eddie Howe reveals just how few players in training in Crystal Palace build up and Livramento question

The Mag

·25. April 2024

Eddie Howe reveals just how few players in training in Crystal Palace build up and Livramento question

When you have a win such as the 4-0 thrashing of Tottenham and indeed a run of four wins and a draw (should have been a win as well against Everton) in your last six games, it is easy to forget, or ignore, just how many Newcastle United players are still missing.

Basically, when you are winning, nothing else matters.

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When you lose, questions are asked.

Despite so few options at Crystal Palace, especially when it came to positive changes from the bench, Tino Livramento stayed on the bench, whilst Ritchie and White were used.

Eddie Howe asked after the Palace defeat specifically about why Livramento wasn’t used and the United boss answering that question AND also expanding on the overall problems he has, in terms of just how few Newcastle United players were training before this match:

“It is a difficult period for us because we still have players that aren’t 100 per cent fit.

“We have had a very, very small training group in between games.

“That limits your options really.

“Tino Livramento is still struggling with his ankle, hence why he didn’t come on the pitch tonight [against Crystal Palace].

“He was there really for an emergency.

“We have been training with twelve or thirteen players these last ten days.

” I’m not sure [whether Tino Livramento will play on Saturday against Sheffield United].

“As we certainly don’t want to give him a longer-term problem.

“He is technically fit enough [to play] but sort of high risk.

“We want to make sure we don’t give him a longer-term problem but it all depends on which players I have available.”

Including Tino Livramento not available to start last night, at the very least Eddie Howe missing ten Newcastle United players, with also missing – Pope, Targett, Botman, Tonali, Joelinton, Trippier, Almiron, Willock and Miley.

Palace:

Mateta 55, 88

(Half-time stats in brackets)

Possession was Palace 47% (51%) Newcastle 53% (49%)

Total shots were Palace 20 (9) Newcastle 6 (1)

Shots on target were Palace 7 (5) Newcastle 2 (0)

Corners were Palace 7 (4) Newcastle 2 (0)

Referee: Thomas Bramall

Newcastle team v Crystal Palace:

Dubravka, J Murphy (Wilson 65), Krafth, Schar, Burn, Longstaff (White 90), Bruno, Anderson (Ritchie 90), Gordon, Barnes (Hall 65), Isak

Unused subs:

Karius, Dummett, Livramento, A Murphy, Parkinson