Up to nine players could miss Newcastle United's Carabao Cup fourth round clash against Everton on Thursday, with Matthias Jaissle confirming six are still sidelined and two more are doubts. The Magpies travel to Merseyside before welcoming David Moyes' side to the North East days later in the Premier League.
Jaissle: Training still feels like pre-season
Jaissle has revealed that it has still felt like pre-season in training despite heading into the fourth month of the season, due to the absences Newcastle have been forced to contend with. "It will still take time," he said in his press conference ahead of Everton.
"I mentioned it last week here that sometimes we feel that it's still summer or pre-season when it comes to the training sessions to bring basics into the team. We had so many injuries at the peak, eight or nine. Then the weeks with the national teams, where you cannot really work in detail with the whole team. So all these aspects lead to the fact that we're still in the process."
Elanga and Ramsey make progress
The conditions of Anthony Elanga and Jacob Ramsey are improving after they featured from the bench at the weekend. "Again, without picking now already the starting XI and telling you, both of them making progress day by day," Jaissle said.
"You see their physicality is getting better and better. When there's the time to start, I will not tell you right now, but the progress is obviously to see."
Doubts over Fernandez-Pardo and Miley
There is also uncertainty over Matias Fernandez-Pardo and Lewis Miley, who are aiming to return to the club's matchday squad. Miley missed the game against Crystal Palace due to a glute issue, while Fernandez-Pardo was absent through illness.
"These two players are still doubts and question marks if they can make it," Jaissle said. "Still two days to decide if they are able to be in the squad but we don't want to take any additional risk."
Tino Livramento continues to go through rehabilitation and could return to the side 'soon' while Ewen Jaouen is sidelined with a hamstring injury set to keep him out until December.
Everton's injury concerns
Everton's injury issues are less extensive, with Moyes hoping that his injured stars can return from the clash. Vitalii Mykolenko was forced off the field in Everton's Premier League defeat to Arsenal, while Jack Grealish and Jarrad Branthwaite both missed that game.
Grealish, on loan from Manchester City, missed the match through illness. England international Branthwaite, meanwhile, missed the game due to a concussion suffered against Chelsea when he collided with Emi Martinez. It remains to be seen if the players can prove fit enough to be available for the visit of the Magpies.
