Newcastle United will be missing Bruno Guimaraes again at Man City as well as another key midfielder
Newcastle United face the steepest of uphill battles on Wednesday night: Going to a ground at which they've never won to overturn a 2-0 deficit as they take on Manchester City in the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg.
The Magpies' record at the Etihad is, to put it mildly, bogwater. In their last 11 visits to the Etihad in all competitions, Newcastle have scored only 3 goals while conceding 37, and they've not scored in their last four visits.
Newcastle need to bag at least two goals to give themselves a fighting chance. We know that stranger things have happened in football, but this one feels like a stretch.
Especially when you factor in Newcastle's injury problems and levels of fatigue, those players who are 'fit' to play look absolutely knackered.
Bruno Guimaraes will miss Newcastle's Carabao Cup semi-final second leg tie at the Etihad
Eddie Howe gave an injury update this morning as he faced the media and confirmed that Bruno Guimares, who was only expected to miss one game, will now miss tomorrow's match. There was a positive update on Sven Botman, but less so on youngster Lewis Miley.
"Bruno is doing well. Don't think he will make this game but there is a chance for the weekend.
"Sven Botman is OK. Lewy, I'm not sure will make this game."
Newcastle United had two injured players on the bench on Saturday night
Howe said after the game on Saturday night that Botman and Miley were on the bench but weren't fit to take part at Anfield, and that they were only there as he wanted to give them every opportunity to be fit.
If that doesn't tell you how dire our squad situation is right now, I don't know what will. And yet, not a single player through the door in January.
The mood around Tyneside isn't exactly brimming with positivity right now, and that's unlikely to change tomorrow night.
