Newcastle United have been dealt a serious blow with reports that defender Tino Livramento faces around two months out with a serious hamstring injury.
The 23-year-old was sent off just before time expired during the Magpies’ dramatic FA Cup third round win over Bournemouth on Saturday.
Libramento looked sharp early on, but after sprinting down the right flank he felt discomfort and pulled up, quickly being replaced by Lewis Hall.
Tino Libramento out for 6-8 weeks
The Daily Mail reports that scans have since revealed the extent of the damage and the prognosis is worse than initially feared.
The injury is expected to keep the versatile full-back out for six to eight weeks, adding to Eddie Howe’s defensive headaches at a crucial stage of the season.
The loss of Livramento comes at a terrible time for Newcastle, who are already navigating a congested fixture list and a growing injury crisis.
With veterans Kieran Trippier and Fabian Schaal also struggling with injury problems, Libramento became a key element of Howe’s backline, providing energy and reliability on both the left and right sides of the defence.
According to reports, the club’s medical staff are aiming for a return in early March, but given the nature of the hamstring recurrence, they will be cautious not to rush his return.
Libramento will miss the match against Newcastle
Libramento’s absence means he will miss a series of high-profile matches across three competitions.
The player has already missed the League Cup semi-final first leg against Manchester City and will miss the second leg as well.
He is set to miss important Premier League games in January and February, including one that could see Newcastle clash with their rivals as they battle for a place in Europe.
He will also miss the FA Cup fourth round, scheduled for late January.
If his recovery goes to plan, supporters can expect him to return to the team for a run-in starting in March, and potentially for the final push of the season.
Until then, Lewis Hall and possibly a new addition in January will need to step up to fill the void left by the dynamic defender.
