Newcastle United’s defender, Tino Livramento, has been confirmed to be sidelined for approximately eight weeks due to a knee ligament injury, as announced by manager Eddie Howe.
At just 22 years old, Livramento sustained the injury in Newcastle’s 2-1 loss to Arsenal in the Premier League and subsequently missed the team’s impressive 4-0 victory against Union Saint-Gilloise in the Champions League.
Howe expressed disappointment at the loss of such a key player, acknowledging the challenge of managing without him during a demanding schedule of fixtures. He noted, “After consulting with a specialist, the initial scan results were better than we had anticipated. However, the specialist has confirmed it is indeed an eight-week injury, which is disappointing given the number of matches we have coming up. It’s a ligament issue, and recovery will require time.”
This latest injury isn’t Livramento’s first struggle; he previously faced a more severe knee issue during his time at Southampton prior to transferring to Newcastle in the summer of 2023. There had been concerns about the potential seriousness of his current injury mirroring his past struggles.
Despite this setback, Howe is optimistic about the return of two other defenders to the squad. Fabian Schar, who has been out for several weeks while adhering to concussion protocols, is expected to resume play soon. Lewis Hall is also on the path to recovery from a broken foot sustained back in February.
Hall’s return is particularly welcome, especially after Livramento’s injury, given that he has performed admirably in an out-of-position role at left-back. Howe is hopeful that Hall can quickly regain his form. In the interim, Dan Burn has stepped into the left-back position during the matches against Arsenal and Union.
Howe remarked, “Fab has been doing well. We fully respect the need for concussion protocols, and he has followed them diligently. It’s great to see him back in form.” He added, “With Lewis, the situation has been a bit more complicated. We’re ensuring he feels completely confident in his body again. He is making progress, but we’ll keep a close eye on how he develops.”
Newcastle will face Nottingham Forest at St James’ Park on Sunday at 2 PM BST (9 AM EST), which adds urgency to their injury management.
Livramento has been one of Newcastle’s standout players in 2025, excelling in a role that’s not typically his. Many fans have debated whether he performs better as a left-back rather than in his usual right-back position. His remarkable display at left-back for the England under-21 team during their successful European Championship title defense and subsequently for the senior national team has fueled this debate.
There’s curiosity among fans regarding Hall’s recovery process, as he hasn’t consistently re-entered the first team, despite being included in the matchday squads for several weeks now. Newcastle has adopted a much stricter approach to injury management compared to two years ago when they last participated in the Champions League, with Performance Director James Bunce actively shaping their strategy.
Howe’s comments about the need to monitor players’ progress are significant, especially with a congested fixture list already apparent this season. The upcoming international break arrives at a timely juncture, allowing them to adequately prepare for crucial upcoming matches against Brighton and Fulham in the Premier League, as well as facing Benfica, managed by Jose Mourinho, at St James’ Park later this month in the Champions League.
Although Burn is an accomplished center-back, his slower pace has been a liability when playing left-back. He handled this role frequently in the 2022-23 season when Newcastle achieved Champions League qualification, but a shift in tactical emphasis, leading to reduced intensity in midfield pressing, has made him more vulnerable to being targeted.
Additionally, Livramento joins fellow players Yoane Wissa and Jacob Ramsey on the injury list; however, both are expected to return later this month. Given the initial fears surrounding another potentially season-ending injury, there is a sense of relief among the team and its supporters, acknowledging that Livramento’s circumstances could have turned out far worse.
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