Newcastle United missing XI: The team that Eddie Howe can’t put out tonight isn’t too bad

Newcastle United go up against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League this evening (Kick-off is 5:45pm).

Newcastle's current injury crisis and other irritating things mean that there's an entire starting XI missing for Eddie Howe.

We've cobbled together a full team of unavailable players and you know what? It's not half bad overall.

This highlights the issues Howe is facing

Goalkeeper

Mark Gillespie - Probably the weakest part of the starting XI, who knows? We've never seen him play yet in the three years he's been here. He's not registered to play in the Champions League.

Defence

Emil Krafth - Another who is not registered for the Champions League which is a shame as he's just got back into the matchday squad.

Sven Botman - The mystery knee injury continues to keep the Rolls Royce out of the side and it looks like it will continue to do so for a while.

Dan Burn - BDB battered his spine after an awkward fall on Saturday and now faces a couple of months on the sidelines.

Matt Targett - Tiggs was just starting to get back into Eddie Howe's plans when he pinged his meatstring stretching for a high ball against Manchester United.

Midfield

Matt Ritchie - Fit and raring to go, Gordon Ramsay and Eddie Howe's lovechild is unregistered for the Champions League.

Sandro Tonali - Banned for at least 10 months.

Elliot Anderson - Another one with a back injury, still not close to a return.

Forwards

Jacob Murphy - He tried, bless him, but after just 10 or so minutes on the pitch on Saturday his arm dropped out of the shoulder socket and now he needs surgery.

Harvey Barnes - Barnes has been out for a while with a toe injury and still isn't close to a return. He's got nine more, he's just being lazy if you ask us. (Not really).

Alexander Isak - Was spotted back in training yesterday, albeit with the physio rather than the squad, still a way off from a return.

Tonight's bench is going to be interesting

Any side that has that forward line has a chance against anyone, the midfield isn't bad either, and if you replace Sven Botman with Fabian Schar, that's the defence that did very well in the early days of Howe's reign, so really only the 'keeper is cause for concern.

Of course, it's not a good thing that this starting XI is good, that means we have a full team of quality players that Howe can't pick from tonight.

We still have enough to put out a good side who can cause Dortmund problems, but there likely won't be anyone on the bench who can change a game if needed.