Newcastle United are sweating on the fitness of Livramento after he limped off during the 2-1 loss to Bournemouth. The 23-year-old defender went down with what looks like a serious thigh problem. It happened at St James’ Park and the mood around the club is pretty low right now.
This injury comes at the worst possible time for the player and his manager. Eddie Howe didn’t sound very happy when he spoke to the press after the game. And he admitted that the initial signs aren’t great for the right-back. He’s been a key part of the team this season when he’s actually been fit to play.
The 2025-26 season is reaching the business end and Newcastle need everyone available. But it seems like they might have to do without their star defender for a while. Sources say the club is waiting on more tests to see if his season is over. That would be a massive blow for their hopes of finishing in a European spot.
What Eddie Howe said about the injury
Eddie Howe was asked about the situation straight after the Bournemouth defeat. He confirmed that the player was forced off and it didn’t look good on the pitch. Howe used the words “bad injury” to describe what the medical staff saw early on. But he also said they need to wait for the swelling to go down before they know the full truth.
According to england-world-cup-newcastle-b2964223.html” rel=”noopener noreferrer” target=”_blank”>The Independent, a second scan is scheduled for the weekend. This should happen around April 26 or 27 to get a clearer picture of the muscle damage. Howe told reporters: “He is due to have another scan at the weekend to determine the full extent of his time out.”
There is some confusion in the media about how bad it really is though. Some reports from GB News suggested Howe might have downplayed it in a different interview. But the main takeaway from the club is that they’re worried. We won’t know if he can play again this season until those weekend results come back to the training ground.
England and the World Cup situation
The timing of this thigh issue is a nightmare because of the FIFA World Cup. Thomas Tuchel is the man in charge of England now and he’s been watching the defender closely. Livramento has been in the mix for a starting spot at right-back lately. He even started the draw against Uruguay and got minutes against Japan last month.
If he’s out for three months, he won’t be on the plane to the tournament. That would be a huge shame for a player who has worked so hard to get into the international setup. Tuchel has plenty of options at right-back but the Newcastle man offers something different. His pace and ability to get forward are things England really likes to use.
But you can’t go to a World Cup if you aren’t match fit. The tournament starts in June and July and the clock is ticking. If the scan shows a bad tear, the recovery could take anywhere from eight to twelve weeks. And that doesn’t leave much time for him to get back into rhythm before the first group game.
A pattern of injuries for the defender
One of the biggest concerns for Newcastle is how often this keeps happening. This is actually the fourth injury Livramento has picked up in this season alone. It’s been a deeply frustrating campaign for him and the fans. He just can’t seem to stay on the pitch for a long run of games without something going wrong.
He’s had a history of these types of problems since his days at Southampton. Everyone remembers the ACL injury he had back in 2022 which kept him out for a long time. Since moving to Newcastle in 2023, he’s had various hamstring and ankle issues. It makes you wonder if his body is struggling with the intensity of the Premier League every week.
And it’s not just him either. Newcastle’s medical room has been pretty busy all year. They’ve had a lot of defenders out with muscle strains and knocks. This latest blow just adds to the list of problems Eddie Howe has to solve before the next match. The physio department will be under a lot of pressure to get him back quickly but safely.
The player himself hasn’t said much on social media yet. He’s probably just waiting for the doctors to give him the final word. It’s a tough mental challenge for a young player to keep getting knocked back like this. Especially when he was playing so well for club and country just a few weeks ago.
How Newcastle handles the loss
So what does Howe do now? Losing a versatile player who can play on both sides is a headache. Emil Krafth is likely the man who will have to step up and fill the gap. Krafth is experienced but he doesn’t have the same attacking threat as the younger man. Or maybe Howe will try to move some other players around to cover the right side.
The squad depth is really being tested now. Newcastle are pushing for Europe and they can’t afford to drop points like they did against Bournemouth. But without their best full-back, the defense looks a bit more vulnerable. They might have to change the way they play and maybe sit a bit deeper to protect the back four.
And the fans are starting to get worried about the end of the season. They’ve seen this story before where injuries ruin a good run of form. If they lose more players in the next few weeks, the European dream might slip away. Everyone is just hoping for some good news from the scans on Sunday or Monday.
But the reality is that a thigh injury is tricky. You think it’s fine and then it goes again the moment you try to sprint. Newcastle won’t want to rush him back and risk a longer layoff. But with the World Cup and the Premier League finish line in sight, the pressure to return is massive.
We should get an official update from the club early next week. Until then, it’s just a waiting game for everyone involved. It’s a shame for the lad because he’s got so much talent. Let’s hope it’s not as bad as Howe first feared when he saw him go down on the grass.
