Newcastle handed double blow to squad ahead of PSG clash due to little-known Champions League rule
NEWCASTLE have been dealt another blow ahead of their crucial Champions League clash against Paris Saint-Germain.
That is because the Magpies’ manager Eddie Howe has seen his already thin squad cut by a further two absentees ahead of tonight’s crunch game against PSG at Parc des Princes.
Newcastle were dealt a double blow ahead of their Champions League clash with PSGRex
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe can’t pick Alex Murphy and Amadou DialloReuters
Alex Murphy and Amadou Diallo are not allowed to be involved against the French champions due to a little-known UEFA rule.
Murphy, 19, and Diallo, 20, can’t be part of the Toon’s B squad because they have not been with the club for more than two years.
Thus, Howe was left with just 18 players in his already injury-ravaged squad.
That is why the 45-year-old tactician went on to enlist 19-year-old James Huntley.
The ex-Bournemouth boss can also pick 17-year-old star Lewis Miley as he took part in training on Monday after his impressive performance on Saturday’s 4-1 win over Chelsea.
Howe said: “There is every chance he [Miley] will be involved; I think he is ready. He has a great temperament for these occasions.
“The thing I loved about him after the game on Saturday, it was just another game for him, that is how he will need to approach this one.
“We are pretty much as we were at the weekend, but just with a few absentees who can’t play in this competition.
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“Joe [Willock] is seeing a specialist tomorrow, we are still unsure on him. Sean [Longstaff] has not travelled.”
Howe is already dealing with a long injury list as Sven Botman, Dan Burn, Elliot Anderson, Harvey Barnes, Callum Wilson, Joe Willock and Sean Longstaff are all crocked.
Newcastle are bottom of Group F as they’ve only won one out of their four Champions League matches against PSG and lost twice to Borussia Dortmund.
