Eddie Howe now names two Newcastle players who will miss the Liverpool game on Monday

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It does not sound like Newcastle United are going to receive any major injury boosts when they face Liverpool on January 1st.

The Magpies travel to Merseyside for their first game of 2024, as they aim to pick up their first win at Anfield since 1994. It is an unlikely task, but one that would have been boosted by some players returning from injury.

Newcastle got Joelinton back on Boxing Day and he will hope for a bigger role against Liverpool, but it does not sound like he will be joined by any other returning absentees.

The two biggest names who are currently unavailable due to injury are Joe Willock and Harvey Barnes, and Eddie Howe has spoke about the duo ahead of the game against the Reds on Monday night.

Newcastle injury update ahead of Liverpool clash

During his pre-match press conference ahead of the Liverpool game, Howe provided updates on long-term absentees Willock and Barnes, while he also spoke about Jamaal Lascelles after he missed the defeat to Nottingham Forest.

“Joe Willock and Harvey Barnes continue to work behind the scenes, but we don’t have an update on them,” he said.

“Jamaal Lascelles’ injury we don’t think is serious, we hope to get him back very soon.”

Newcastle desperately missing Willock and Barnes

Howe’s update on Lascelles sounds positive, but he is not the type of player that we are crying out for right now.

We need difference makers in attack, and that is exactly what Willock and Barnes are. The former has been a huge miss in midfield this season, and fans are now even more aware of just how important he is given how much we have struggled during his absence.

As for Barnes, we are crying out for depth in attack. Miguel Almiron is seriously struggling at the moment, and could do with a spell out of the starting lineup. But with Barnes still not due to return, it looks like that won’t be happening against Liverpool.

Hopefully Willock and Barnes, who are yet to actually play together this season, are not far away from returning, and we can see them in black and white stripes at some point in January. However, it will not happen on New Year’s Day according to Eddie Howe.

Instead, his midfield and attacking options will remain the same as they were for the defeat to Nottingham Forest.