Newcastle predicted line-up vs. Fulham: Two changes expected with Burn & Botman among injury concerns

Newcastle United will hope to put their derby day defeat to Sunderland behind them when they take on Fulham in the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup this Wednesday – but Eddie Howe has several injury concerns to deal with in the build-up.

Dan Burn is the latest player to suffer a significant injury after he was forced off during the Tyne & Wear Derby, and the towering defender is among six first-team players believed to be either out or doubts ahead of the game against Marco Silva’s side.

We’ve got all the latest updates on Burn’s condition as well as the rest of the Newcastle team news below, along with our prediction for Howe’s starting XI.

How bad is Dan Burn’s injury for Newcastle?

Dan Burn went down during the first half of Sunday’s match against Sunderland after a strong and ultimately late challenge by Nordi Mukiele resulted in Burn taking both of the Frenchman’s legs to the chest, and was replaced by Fabian Schär in evident pain. Mukiele was booked for the foul.

Howe revealed after the match that the England international had suffered a broken rib and a punctured lung as a result of Mukiele’s tackle and that he had been “struggling to breathe” in the aftermath. Burn was taken to hospital for treatment and has since been discharged, but is expected to miss a number of matches while he recovers.

While the club has not yet officially confirmed the timeline for Burn’s return, The Daily Mail reports that he will be out for around six weeks, meaning he could miss 10 matches over the busy festive period.

Howe admitted that Burn’s injury leaves Newcastle “stretched” along their defence, with Kieran Trippier (hamstring) out until the turn of the year and Sven Botman (back) and Emil Krafth (knee) likely still unavailable.

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Howe may be forced into defensive changes for Fulham match

Between injuries and the fact that both Lewis Hall and Valentino Livramento have only recently returned from lay-offs of their own, Howe may be forced to make changes at the back against Fulham in order to keep his remaining fit players fresh – which could mean an opportunity for 21-year-old Alex Murphy or a recall to the matchday squad for Jamaal Lascelles, who has not been involved since November.

Harrison Ashby is another back-up option, with the 24-year-old full-back having featured for the Under-21s this month after he returned from a thigh injury. It remains likely, however, that Hall, Livramento, Schär and Malick Thiaw start with Newcastle closing in on another shot at the EFL Cup trophy. Botman does at least have some chance of being back in time for the weekend.

Elsewhere, Newcastle are still expected to be without the services of goalkeeper Nick Pope (groin) and striker William Osula (ankle), with the latter expected to return in January. Joelinton, who had been a doubt for the game against Sunderland due to a groin issue but made the bench, is likely to be among the substitutes once more, with Yoane Wissa also likely to be among Wednesday’s reserves.

Predicted Newcastle line-up vs. Fulham: Ramsdale; Hall, Schär, Thiaw, Livramento; Bruno, Tonali, Miley; Gordon, Woltemade, Murphy.