Kylian Mbappe will travel with Paris Saint-Germain to face Newcastle United in the Champions League on Wednesday (8 p.m.).
Newcastle will host the Ligue 1 winners at St James’ Park in their first winners League home match in almost 20 years. PSG defeated Borussia Dortmund 2-0 in their first encounter, with Mbappe converting a second-half penalty. Since then, the France superstar has been an injury concern for PSG as they prepare to face The Magpies in the second group stage match. Mbappe, on the other hand, is expected to be eligible to face Newcastle after playing a complete 90 minutes for PSG over the weekend.
It would prove to be a frustrating afternoon for the 24-year-old and his side as they were held to a 0-0 draw against bottom of the table Clermont Foot. The draw left PSG sitting fifth in the Ligue 1 table with just three wins from their opening seven matches while Clermont Foot moved off the foot of the table with an unexpected point.
Mbappe was booked in the match and failed to score for a second successive game. Despite two games without a goal, Mbappe heads to Tyneside having found the net eight times already this season in just seven appearances.
Amid fitness concerns for Mbappe, Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe was asked whether he wanted one of the world’s best players to line-up against his side on Wednesday evening.
“Do you want the honest answer or the diplomatic answer?” Howe questioned in response. “I’ll give the diplomatic one…yes, we do!”
Newcastle will be missing defender Sven Botman for the game due to a knee injury. Callum Wilson, last season’s leading scorer, is also a doubt, as are Joelinton and Harvey Barnes, who are both injured.
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