Official Newcastle United injury update sees defender ruled out for season but Joelinton is back

Eddie Howe has delivered a Newcastle United injury and availability update.

The Head Coach holding his Qarabag FK pre-match press conference on Tuesday.

The Champions League play-off is a 5.45pm (GMT) kick-off on Wednesday.

Eddie Howe on Joelinton:

“He’s back in the squad which is a great boost for us.

“He’s such an important player and a big presence in our squad. A real leader.

“He trained well yesterday and felt really good, so delighted with his return.”

Eddie Howe on Emil Krafth:

“Emil has had an operation on his knee so in all likelihood it looks like his season is over which is a blow for us.

“He first suffered the problem on international duty and we hoped he could come back and be OK.

“It was clear in training he wasn’t going to get to the level needed and there needed to be a surgical intervention.”

Eddie Howe on Lewis Miley:

“He’s doing alright. He’s made good progress in the last few days. We’re happy with his progress.

“He’s had a number of scans, it came from a knock and it was a really bad dead leg which gave him some muscle disruption so as soon as that’s healed, which we think it is now, we can push him on quite quickly.”

Eddie Howe on team selection against Qarabag FK:

“We will play our strongest team and we will try to win the game. There will be no thinking of the schedule ahead, this game in isolation is hugely important.”

Eddie Howe on Newcastle United playing in the knockout stages of the Champions League:

“It means everything to us. The opportunity for us to get to the last-16 of this competition would be an incredible achievement. We’re trying to embrace it in that way and look at the excitement and the possibility than feel the burden of the pressure of the occasion.

We want to turn these moments into history and into moments people talk about for a long time. There’s a real excitement with this game.”