Pope, Trippier & Almiron: Newcastle United injury list & expected return dates ahead of Crystal Palace clash

Newcastle United catapulted themselves back into the Europa League places with arguably their best league performance of the season as they hammered Tottenham Hotspur 4-0.

The result allowed the Magpies to leapfrog both West Ham and Manchester United in the Premier League table and leaves the North East club in pole position for a place on the continent next term.

If Newcastle are to qualify for Europe it would be viewed as a remarkable achievement given the club’s jam-packed treatment table, which has often limited Eddie Howe’s starting line-up options and often restricted his ability to make tactical changes mid-game.

The club’s recent performances despite the absence of player’s totalling a league high of more than 1400 days shows that the Magpies still have a strong chance of finishing in the top six, and even a slim but outside chance of qualifying for the Champions League, given Spurs' difficult run-in at the end of the season.

With no fixture at the weekend, Newcastle have been given more than a week’s rest in preparation for the Crystal Palace clash, but how can we expect the Magpies to line-up and will any key players be back in the frame for the trip down south.  Here’s all you need to know about Newcastle’s current injury list and their return dates:

Sven Botman

Sven Botman underwent knee surgery for a serious complaint which has heavily disrupted his second season in England. He may not play again in 2024 depending on how swiftly he can complete his rehabilitation process. Speaking about the Dutchman recently, Howe said: ‘He now has a long road ahead of him; the operation went well.'

Jamal Lascelles

Newcastle captain Jamal Lascelles will also miss the remainder of the season and most of 2024 after sustaining a serious knee injury.

Sandro Tonali

Sandro Tonali’s arrival from AC Milan attracted great excitement from the St James’ Park faithful, but fans will have to wait until next season to see if he can live up the hype. As it stands, he is serving a season long suspension for gambling related offences, which is due to expire in August at the start of the 2024/25 campaign.

Lewis Miley

Newcastle’s breakout star Lewis Miley returned from England U21 duty with lower back issue, which is likely to keep him out until at least another month. Eddie Howe commented: “Lewis has come back [from England] with a back problem. We are seeking a specialist opinion on him; we don't know exactly what it is right now.”

Callum Wilson

Last season’s top scorer Callum Wilson has struggled with a series of injuries this season, which have been heavily detrimental to his hopes of playing at Euro 2024. Wilson is on the comeback trail following a pectoral injury sustained against Nottingham Forest , and is expected back next month. Explaining the striker’s current situation in late March, Howe said: “Callum is doing the hard yards. He is running hard. It is an upper limb injury, so he can keep fit, and when he is ready to come back, I think he will be looking good.”

Joelinton

Brazil international Joelinton is pushing to return to the Magpies squad for the first time since signing his contract extension earlier in the month. He has been injured since the Tyne-Wear Derby in January and is pushing to return next month.

Miguel Almiron

The Paraguayan sustained a knee injury before the Magpies victory over Fulham and has not been in the squad since then.  Eddie Howe claims the injury is ‘not too serious’ but adds that it is likely to rule him out until the start of May.

Nick Pope

Nick Pope has been a huge miss for Newcastle since suffering from a dislocated shoulder in December’s victory over Manchester United. Late April has long been seen as a realistic target for the England international, who could return to the squad for the home match against Sheffield United on the 27th.

Kieran Trippier

Another England international on the treatment table, Trippier has been sidelined with a calf problem in recent weeks, but faces a late fitness test ahead of a possible return against Crystal Palace next Wednesday.

Joe Willock

Another player whose season has been blighted by injury, Willock was withdrawn against Fulham after straining an adductor. He is likely to miss the remainder of the season, according to reports.

Matt Targett

After a successful loan spell from Aston Villa, Targett has been blighted by injuries since making the move permanent. Eddie Howe said in March that the left back was on the brink of returning, but now appears to have suffered a further setback in his bid to return to the first team setup.