Newcastle United have been dealt a fresh injury blow hours before kickoff against Liverpool, with captain Dan Burn ruled out for the next few weeks.
The defender suffered an ankle injury in training ahead of Sunday’s Premier League clash at St. James' Park, adding to new manager Matthias Jaissle’s mounting problems. Jaissle, whose preparations for the new campaign have already been disrupted by major squad turnover, now finds his defensive options severely depleted just as Andoni Iraola side arrive on Tyneside.
Liverpool fans are under no illusions that their Premier League opener against Newcastle United at St James' Park will be a very difficult game. Despite all the change that has gone on in the North East this summer, with Matthias Jaissle set to take charge of the Magpies for the very first time, a raucous atmosphere awaits Andoni Iraola's side.
On the pitch, as many as five debutants are forecast to be in the Newcastle starting lineup, namely Lukáš Horníček, Amar Dedić, Sean Steur, Aladji Bamba and Bazoumana Touré. Meanwhile, two of their longest-serving players will miss out.
As reported by Keith Downie of Sky Sports less than three hours before kick off, Dan Burn "is set to miss the next few weeks". He adds that the 34 year old has suffered an ankle injury in training.
"It's the boy from Blyth!"
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) March 16, 2025
A bullet header from Dan Burn! 💥 pic.twitter.com/TWjNryvqeu
Amid a summer of upheaval for Newcastle, as already noted, Burn is not the only long standing stalwart Jaissle will be without. The German head coach confirmed that Joelinton "will be missing for at least two weeks" due to an unspecified injury the Brazilian suffered during pre-season.
Had he been available, Joelinton certainly would have started in midfield, likely alongside new recruits Steur and Bamba. Instead, one of Jacob Ramsey or Lewis Miley will complete the midfield trio. In 13 career appearances against Liverpool, the 30 year old has lost nine and collected three yellow cards, hence why Reds are probably pleased that he won't be available.
Well, similar could be said of Burn. The 6ft 7in defender scored during the Carabao Cup Final between the pair 17 months ago at Wembley, with a certain Alexander Isak Newcastle's other scorer that day. Burn has though lost eight of his nine Premier League games against the Reds while representing his boyhood club. In fact, his only league win over Liverpool came for Brighton at Anfield in February 2021. No, I don't anything that happened during the Covid season either...
Even if he was fit, the England international did only play 45 minutes throughout pre-season, meaning he almost certainly would not have started anyway. Malick Thiaw and Sven Botman are forecast to be Newcastle's centre-back pairing, with Lewis Hall at left-back.
Knowing how strong the Magpies will be this season is impossible to predict. They could finish in a European place, or be dragged into the relegation battle, anything is on the table. One thing is for certain, they'll be desperate to beat Isak and Liverpool.
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