Everton Handed HUGE Injury Blow Ahead of Newcastle Clash
Everton face a major fitness headache ahead of their Carabao Cup last-16 clash with Newcastle United.
The two sides meet at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Thursday night in a high-stakes cup encounter.
By the time this game kicks off the winners will already know their quarter-final opponents.
The draw takes place after Liverpool’s clash with Chelsea earlier in the evening.
Newcastle have reached at least the quarter-final stage of the Carabao Cup in each of the last four seasons.
They even lifted the trophy in 2025 after a memorable run.
Everton have won nine English league titles in their history.
Yet they have never managed to win the Carabao Cup or its previous incarnations.
This cup meeting comes just days before the two teams face each other again.
Newcastle host Everton in the Premier League on Monday night at St James’ Park.
The quick turnaround adds extra pressure on both managers when selecting their sides.
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Newcastle United Team News
Newcastle will be without two key players for the trip to Merseyside.
Goalkeeper Ewen Jaouen is ruled out with a hamstring injury.
Defender Tino Livramento also misses out because of a knee problem.
Both absences have been ongoing for several weeks already.
Lewis Miley is a major doubt with a glute issue that has troubled him recently.
The young midfielder scored in Newcastle’s 4-1 win at the Hill Dickinson Stadium last season.
Matias Fernandez-Pardo will be hoping to recover in time after recent illness.
That illness forced him to miss the win against Crystal Palace on Sunday.
Jacob Ramsey returned to the bench at Selhurst Park and came on as a late substitute.
Anthony Elanga also featured from the bench in the same match.
However head coach Matthias Jaissle has strongly suggested the pair are not quite ready to start.
Both players are still building match fitness after spells out injured.
On the whole Newcastle’s injury problems are finally starting to ease.
Joelinton came back into the starting line-up last time out after a spell on the sidelines.
William Osula also returned to the first team in that victory over Crystal Palace.
Amar Dedic regained his place in the side after missing previous games.
Fabian Schar was another welcome returnee to the starting eleven.
Dan Burn also featured from the start after recovering from his own issues.
These returns give Jaissle far more options than he has enjoyed in recent weeks.
The German coach will still need to be careful with those returning from injury.
He has already made clear that he does not want to take unnecessary risks with players.
Miley and Fernandez-Pardo will be assessed right up until the final team selection.
Jaissle prefers to decide step by step rather than rush anyone back too soon.
Newcastle’s overall squad depth looks healthier than it did earlier in the campaign.
That improvement could prove vital in a competition they take very seriously.
Everton Team News
Much like Newcastle, Everton are also sweating on the fitness of key players.
Jack Grealish missed the Toffees’ 2-0 defeat at Arsenal due to illness.
The on-loan Manchester City attacker remains a doubt for Thursday night.
Jarrad Branthwaite was absent from the Arsenal game after suffering a concussion.
That concussion came in the previous match against Chelsea.
The defender will be past the initial concussion protocol period by Thursday.
He will only be able to play if his symptoms have fully cleared in time.
Full-back Vitalii Mykolenko was forced off against Arsenal in the closing stages.
That knock makes him a doubt for the cup tie as well.
Everton’s defensive resources look particularly stretched if both Branthwaite and Mykolenko miss out.
David Moyes may have to turn to less experienced or out-of-position options.
The lack of depth has been a recurring theme for Everton this season.
Moyes has already been forced into makeshift back lines in recent weeks.
Grealish’s absence would also remove an important creative outlet in attack.
The England international has shown glimpses of quality since joining on loan.
His illness could not have come at a worse time with two big games in quick succession.
Branthwaite has been one of Everton’s most consistent performers when fit.
Losing him even for one match leaves a significant hole in the heart of defence.
Mykolenko’s potential absence further weakens the left side of the pitch.
Moyes will be hoping at least one or two of the doubts can prove their fitness in time.
The manager has limited senior options to call upon if the injury list grows.
Reports suggest Everton could be left with as few as 15 senior players available.
That situation would force several midfielders into unfamiliar defensive roles.
What This Means for the Tie
The injury situations create a clear contrast between the two squads.
Newcastle are beginning to see their key men return to the fold.
Everton appear to be heading in the opposite direction with fresh doubts emerging.
Jaissle has spoken about wanting a really strong eleven for this fixture.
He views the Carabao Cup as a genuine target rather than a secondary competition.
Moyes faces a tougher balancing act with a thinner squad and a Premier League game four days later.
The Scot must decide how many risks to take with players who are only half-fit.
Both managers know the importance of progressing further in the competition.
Newcastle’s recent history in the Carabao Cup shows they take it extremely seriously.
Four straight quarter-final appearances underline their consistency in this tournament.
Winning the trophy in 2025 remains a high point of the recent era at St James’ Park.
Everton would love to end their long wait for success in this particular competition.
Nine league titles make their failure to lift the League Cup one of the oddities of their history.
The Hill Dickinson Stadium will provide a new backdrop for this cup meeting.
Supporters on both sides will be eager to see which team can handle the fitness issues better.
Newcastle’s returning players give them greater flexibility in selection.
Everton’s doubts centre on some of their most important first-team regulars.
That difference could prove decisive over the course of 90 minutes or more.
The winners will advance knowing their quarter-final opponents already.
That knowledge may influence how both teams approach the closing stages of the contest.
Jaissle will continue to monitor Ramsey and Elanga closely over the next 24 hours.
Any late improvement in their condition could still change his final plans.
Moyes faces similar late checks on Grealish, Branthwaite and Mykolenko.
The outcome of those fitness tests will shape the starting elevens for Thursday.
Newcastle’s recent improvement in availability offers them a platform to push hard for a place in the last eight.
Everton must dig deep and find solutions from within a stretched group of players.
The Carabao Cup continues to provide drama and difficult selection calls for every club involved.
This particular tie looks set to be no exception given the injury lists on both sides.
Supporters will wait for the official team sheets with more interest than usual.
Those sheets will reveal just how badly the doubts have affected each manager’s plans.
Newcastle travel south believing they can continue their strong recent record in this competition.
Everton will hope to use home advantage and any returning players to cause an upset.
The coming days will decide which players make it and which ones sit this one out.
Both clubs know that progressing further would provide a welcome boost in a demanding season.
The injury situation has handed Everton a clear selection problem to solve before kick-off.
Newcastle appear better placed to field a competitive side despite their own absences.
Thursday night’s contest at the Hill Dickinson Stadium now carries extra layers of intrigue.
Every fitness update between now and the team announcement will be closely followed by fans.
The Carabao Cup last-16 stage rarely lacks talking points and this tie is already full of them.
Jaissle and Moyes must both navigate the current doubts as best they can.
The side that manages its resources more effectively may well advance to the quarter-finals.