Newcastle star ruled out of Champions League second leg – Two others still at risk

Four goals from Anthony Gordon, sandwiched between a Malick Thiaw header and deflected strike for Jacob Murphy, made Tuesday night one of the best in our entire European history.

And we’ll soon be preparing to face one of Chelsea or Barcelona in the last 16, where our opponents will be confirmed next Friday.

Though we aren’t confirmed to be through just yet, the only certainty right now is that one star is set to miss the return leg against Qarabag next Tuesday night.

After picking up a yellow card in the second half of last night’s 6-1 win at Qarabag, Malick Thiaw will miss next week’s second leg at St James’ Park through suspension.

Having already picked up two yellow cards in the league phase, his third card has resulted in a one game suspension.

A suspension here is almost a blessing in disguise, however, as with the result of next week’s game seemingly a foregone conclusion, it’ll afford the German international some well-deserved rest after what’s been a relentless few months for him on the pitch.

Serving his suspension against Qarabag also means that he will be available to play the first leg of our last 16 clash, which will be at St James’ Park. Barring he picks up a red card in that game, then he will feature in the return leg at either the Nou Camp or Stamford Bridge.

Howe didn’t see it as a ‘blessing’, feeling we are short in that position with Fabian Schar injured, Sven Botman nursing a back issue and Jamaal Lascelles sold, but it could hand an opportunity to Alex Murphy at centre-back.

“I don’t see it as a blessing, I see it as a negative because we’re really stretched in that position,” Howe said last night.

“Of course it gives us no debate, we have to give Malick a rest. He’s probably been in need of that for a while, so in some senses that could be a positive then, but I don’t think it’s a positive for the team.”

Where Thiaw will be absent, two of our other big names remain a risk of missing the first leg of the last 16 game through suspension, and will need to be on their best behaviour.

Dan Burn and Joelinton each remain on two yellow cards picked up so far in this season’s competition, and thus just a single card now will render them out of our first leg against Barcelona or Chelsea.

And with yellow cards not being wiped until after the quarter-finals have been completed, you could argue that it would have made sense for Howe to try and have both men get booked, serve their suspensions, and be available for whoever the last 16 throws at us.

But the gaffer has re-affirmed that he wants to show an element of class and professionalism in our performance, so it looks like there was never really a plan to employ some ‘dark arts’ and tactical cards.

“We know the tie isn’t dead. We know we have to be professional. We’ve won three games in the blink of an eye and the feeling is very different.”