Looking at 2026 transfer windows as Newcastle United squad turns into an infirmary ward

So, after the damaging first half of December on the injury front, it is time to review the emergency situation fitness-wise in the senior Newcastle United squad.

As Eddie Howe has alluded to recently, the fact of a game every every three days has taken its toll, especially on those who have played through most of the previous two seasons as well, with long cup runs and European games added to the domestic league.

The fatigue of the team added to a freak goal in the derby, as well as refs again going soft on blatant yellow/red card challenges from the opponents, in a game of importance.

Hopefully by now everyone is s able to look beyond that, at what’s important, getting back into the top four or five in the Premier League at the end of season and trying to go deep in the Champions League (plus a thumping win in the reverse derby fixture in March).

A fully available (well rounded in abilities) Newcastle United squad will be essential for this, as this season is going to see 54+ games at a bare minimum now.

Starting with the worst affected area of the Newcastle United squad.

We have got two fit central defenders in Schar and Thiaw, perhaps only because Malick Thiaw didn’t play very often at Milan last season and at start of this one at NUFC, since he started playing, Schar got a decent rest. Not seeing Lascelles on the bench in recent matches, I am assuming it is injury led, as zero senior centre-backs on the bench can’t be by choice, no team ever does that (even Fulham had Issa Diop on the bench).

The overall defender injury list including Botman, Burn, Lascelles, Krafth, Trippier and Livramento, Hall missing against Fulham but thankfully was able to play against Chelsea.

Plus now a 42 year old Ruddy regularly on the bench as second choice available goalkeeper, Nick Pope still out and Ramsdale’s fit perhaps because he hasn’t played much either this season!

Up front

Up front we have Nick Woltemade in the red zone but playing, Yoane Wissa still unable to play 90 minutes though getting there, whilst Osula out injured.

In midfield we have Joelinton currently managing an injury, Tonali unable to do 90 minutes three times a week ever since that big illness in mid-November Whilst Ramsey not at full throttle.

Lewis Miley is fresh due to lack of minutes thus far but that could change.

Somehow Bruno keeps giving 90 minutes every three days (touchwood) but we’re giving him the odd breaks because we can’t risk the alternative. Willock not being injured is anyway a rare sight.

On the wing, our best crosser Murphy’s minutes are managed due to his heel issue which he isn’t getting operated on. Elanga’s still finding his feet and Gordon’s continuous 90 minutes playing time through 2023/24 (including for England both summers though in the latter it was partly on the bench) has caught up with him in 2025, both form and fitness wise. Injury prone Barnes is staying fit, perhaps mainly due to not playing too much last season.

Worse than two years ago?

This is perhaps worse than two years ago when we were at least able to put an eleven on the field but didn’t have any senior players on the bench. Almost the entire squad is carrying/managing an injury. We have a better Newcastle United squad but no one can be regularly available despite rotation and managing their minutes. Plus the rotation means there’s lack of rhythm in the starting eleven and it is being found out when playing away from home.

All this makes managing/improving the Newcastle United squad during 2026, including both transfer windows, vitally important.

I will be reviewing the Newcastle United squad and what I think it needs in the upcoming 2026 transfer windows in part two of this article, which I will be forwarding to The Mag shortly.