Newcastle United's Carabao Cup victory over Fulham was marred by a significant injury concern for defender Tino Livramento, who was forced off late in the match with a fresh knee problem.
Another Setback for the England International
The 23-year-old full-back, who has only recently returned from an eight-week absence due to a knee ligament injury, went down in the 74th minute of the quarter-final clash at St James' Park. Livramento was seen nursing his leg before the Newcastle physio rushed onto the pitch to assess him.
The treatment appeared to focus on his knee, with the medical staff bending and testing the joint's movement as Livramento reacted with visible discomfort. After a brief attempt to continue, the player rose gingerly to his feet and hobbled off the field, replaced by young defender Alex Murphy.
A Troubling Injury History
This latest incident raises serious concerns given Livramento's recent and past fitness struggles. His initial knee injury this season, sustained against Arsenal at the end of September, ruled him out for ten games across October and November, causing him to miss an England international break.
More worryingly, the defender's career was previously disrupted by a serious anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear suffered while playing for Southampton in 2022. That devastating injury kept him sidelined for an entire year.
While the issue against Fulham did not appear as severe as his ACL rupture, any knee complication is a cause for alarm for player and club alike.
World Cup Hopes in the Balance
The timing of this setback could have implications beyond St James' Park. Livramento's hopes of securing a place in Thomas Tuchel's England squad for next summer's World Cup may now be under threat, depending on the severity of the injury and the length of his recovery.
Further assessments will be required to determine the full extent of the damage, but for a player just finding his rhythm again, the psychological blow is as significant as the physical one.
In a bittersweet twist for Newcastle, it was Livramento's makeshift replacement at right-back, Lewis Miley, who headed home a dramatic stoppage-time winner to seal a 2-1 victory and send the Magpies into the Carabao Cup semi-finals. The result, however, was overshadowed by the sight of another key player heading for the treatment room.
