Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe admits he is struggling to find enough fit defenders for Saturday’s match against Chelsea after Tino Livramento joined a growing injury list.
Speaking on Friday, Howe expressed significant concern over his team’s fitness levels following their midweek cup victory.
Livramento limped off during the win against Fulham with a knee problem and is now a major doubt for the weekend.
With five first-choice defenders currently unavailable, Howe faces a selection headache against an in-form Chelsea side.
While Lewis Hall may be fit enough to return to the squad, the Magpies’ boss admitted that the sheer volume of games is taking a toll on his thin squad, particularly with the January window still weeks away.