Newcastle United could be without Matias Fernandez-Pardo and Lewis Miley again on Thursday night, after head coach Matthias Jaissle confirmed both players remain doubtful for the Carabao Cup fourth-round tie away to Everton.
The pair missed Sunday's 2-0 Premier League win at Crystal Palace, a result that lifted the mood on Tyneside after an inconsistent start to the season. Fernandez-Pardo, a summer signing, has been dealing with illness, while academy graduate Miley is nursing a muscle issue, and neither has yet been cleared to return.
Speaking at his press conference on Tuesday, Jaissle refused to rule either player in or out. As reported by Sports Mole, he said: "These two players are still doubtful. Question marks on if they can make it for Thursday night. We need to see step-by-step over the next two days to decide if they're able to be in the squad or not."
No Risks Taken With Either Player
Jaissle made clear that Newcastle will not gamble on either man's fitness with the season still young. "With both of them, we don't want to take any additional risk and, hopefully, they are getting back soon," he added. The update was also carried on the club's own site by Newcastle, underlining that a final decision will only come after the next two days of training.
Two more names remain definitely out. Full-back Tino Livramento is still recovering from a knee injury and goalkeeper Ewen Jaouen from a hamstring problem. On Livramento, Jaissle said: "I don't want to put too much pressure on him but also the medical department. I can just assure you that I see him every day with great professionalism in his rehab, hard-working, so hopefully we have him back soon."
So What It Means for Everton Away
The timing is awkward. Newcastle travel to the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Thursday looking to keep a cup run alive, in the same week the Carabao Cup fourth round also sends Arsenal to Fleetwood. Jaissle is expected to name a relatively strong side, with Harvey Barnes and William Osula — the scorers at Selhurst Park — in contention to keep their places, but losing Miley's control in midfield and Fernandez-Pardo's threat in the final third narrows his options if the tie turns tight late on.
Everton, meanwhile, have their own concerns, with defender Jarrad Branthwaite having missed their last game through concussion and Jack Grealish a doubt through illness, according to the match preview. A place in the quarter-finals is the prize for whichever side copes better with a patched-up squad.
Beyond the Final Whistle: Newcastle's season will not be defined by one cup tie, but this is exactly the kind of week that exposes whether Jaissle's squad is deep enough to compete on two fronts. Refusing to rush Miley and Fernandez-Pardo back is the right call — a rushed return that costs them a month would be far worse than one night without them. If Newcastle win at Everton without them, the depth question starts to answer itself.
Will Newcastle have enough to reach the quarter-finals without Miley and Fernandez-Pardo, or should Jaissle risk one of them at Everton? Let us know what you think in the comments.
