Newcastle United bolster their attacking options ahead of the Champions League clash against Barcelona as key forward Nick Woltemade returns to the squad, while five players are ruled out for the first leg of the Round of 16 tie. Manager Eddie Howe confirmed Woltemade’s recovery from a viral illness that had kept him sidelined since his Premier League match against Manchester United. The German striker, who had lost weight during his illness, trained individually and is expected to be fit for both the upcoming FA Cup encounter against Manchester City and the Champions League match at St James’ Park on March 10. Howe praised Woltemade’s progress, stating, “He trained yesterday and felt good, so that’s positive.” The forward’s availability is a significant boost for Newcastle, as his physicality and goal-scoring ability could challenge Barcelona’s defense. Despite the positive update, Howe revealed several absences for the Champions League fixture. Midfielder Lewis Miley, who suffered a knee injury in January, will miss the game and is unlikely to return for several weeks. Right-back Tino Livramento, dealing with hamstring issues since early in the season, has not yet rejoined training and is also expected to sit out. In addition to Miley and Livramento, Newcastle will be without three more players: Bruno Guimaraes, Fabian Schar, and Emil Krafth. The absence of these key contributors will test the team’s depth as they prepare for the high-stakes encounter against Barcelona, a club that dominated their previous visit to Tyneside in the Champions League. The result could heavily influence the second leg at the Spotify Camp Nou, with Barcelona aiming to secure an advantage in the tie.#champions_league #barcelona #newcastle_united #nick_woltemade #eddie_howe
