Overview
- Bruno Fernandes sustained a soft‑tissue/hamstring injury in the defeat at Aston Villa and was withdrawn at half-time, with Ruben Amorim refusing to set a recovery timeline.
- Kobbie Mainoo remains out with a calf problem picked up in training, and Amorim said he expects the youngster to return sooner than Fernandes.
- Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt are still unavailable, while Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo and Noussair Mazraoui are away at the Africa Cup of Nations.
- Casemiro is available again after serving a one‑match suspension, as Amorim considers “different ways of playing” and highlights opportunities for Jack Fletcher and other youngsters.
- Newcastle travel with a lengthy injury list, and Eddie Howe said there is a chance goalkeeper Nick Pope could return, with several defenders still sidelined.