Eddie Howe names two Newcastle players who will not start Champions League game vs Borussia Dortmund

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has given an update on his team’s status ahead of their upcoming Champions League match against Borussia Dortmund. It appears that the Magpies will field the same group of players that secured a 4-0 victory over Crystal Palace last Saturday, propelling them to sixth place in the Premier League. Now, their focus has shifted to the Champions League, where Newcastle is currently leading their group. Their opponents, Borussia Dortmund, are at the bottom of the group with just one point from their first two matches.

Despite their position, the match against Borussia Dortmund is expected to be highly challenging for Eddie Howe’s side. As a result, the Newcastle manager has shared an injury update in anticipation of this European fixture.

Regarding the status of three key players, Eddie Howe spoke to the media in preparation for the game against Dortmund. He confirmed that Sandro Tonali is currently fit and available. While there are ongoing developments, his condition remains the same as it was prior to the Crystal Palace match.

Joe Willock is gradually nearing his return, but it seems he is not yet ready to make a comeback, in line with what Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie previously reported after observing Newcastle’s training session.

Sven Botman, on the other hand, is unsurprisingly still unavailable. The Dutch player has not been seen in training and hasn’t played since Newcastle’s 8-0 victory over Sheffield United. In his absence, Jamaal Lascelles will continue to partner with Fabian Schar at center-back, with the skipper performing exceptionally well since his return to the starting lineup after an extended period on the bench.

In Sandro Tonali’s case, it appears the club is awaiting confirmation regarding his suspension. Until that is resolved, they will continue to consider the 23-year-old for selection. It would be beneficial for the team if he can participate in the Borussia Dortmund match, as his wealth of Champions League experience could be a valuable asset for Wednesday night’s game.