Newcastle United defender Tino Livramento cut a devastated figure as he headed straight down the tunnel after being forced off with injury during Wednesday night’s Carabao Cup clash against Fulham.
The 23-year-old full-back appeared to hurt his knee late in the match and was replaced by substitute Alex Murphy. Visibly upset, Livramento made his way directly down the tunnel, with team-mate Anthony Gordon offering consolation on the touchline.
A Familiar and Distressing Problem
This latest setback comes just months after Livramento was carried off on a stretcher against Arsenal in September with a knee injury described by Eddie Howe as “really distressing.” The defender worked hard to recover and made his return two months later against Manchester City.
However, the scenes against Fulham suggest he may now be facing another serious issue with the same knee.
Post-Match Concerns
Despite Newcastle’s 2–1 victory, sealed by a stoppage-time winner from Lewis Miley, concern quickly shifted to Livramento’s condition.
After the final whistle, the defender limped back onto the pitch wearing heavy strapping on his left knee, further fuelling fears over the severity of the injury.
Howe’s Defensive Crisis Deepens
Livramento’s injury adds to an already growing list of absentees for Eddie Howe, who is dealing with a major defensive crisis heading into the busy festive period.
Current Injury List:
- Lewis Hall
- Dan Burn
- Sven Botman
- Nick Pope
Meanwhile, Kieran Trippier and Emil Krafth are not expected back until early January.
With options limited, midfielder Lewis Miley was forced to deputise at right-back against Fulham and may be required to fill in again when Newcastle face Chelsea on Saturday.
Howe’s Reaction
When asked for an update after the match, Howe admitted the outlook was concerning:
“No, but it doesn’t look good going off the way he did. It’s a worrying sign and we’re so stretched in that area already, so it’s a worrying blow.”
World Cup Doubts Loom
With the World Cup less than six months away, the injury also raises doubts over whether Livramento will recover in time to stake a claim for selection under Thomas Tuchel.
Reflecting on the original injury in September, Howe previously said:
“He’s such a big player for us in so many different ways — his versatility, his attitude, his quality. If we’re going to miss that for any length of time, it is going to be a huge blow.”
For Newcastle and Livramento alike, this latest setback could hardly come at a worse time.
