Man City vs Newcastle United injury news as 4 ruled out and 4 doubtful – including £115m duo

Manchester City will look to bounce back after a dramatic 3-2 defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League when they face Newcastle United in a crucial Premier League match. The Cityzens, who had twice taken the lead against the European champions, played some of their best attacking football early in the game, taking a 19th-minute lead through Erling Haaland.

However, they struggled to maintain that momentum as the match wore on. As the game progressed, Jack Grealish and Manuel Akanji both picked up injuries, which further hampered their chances. Nathan Ake, who had returned after missing six games, was substituted in the 60th minute, and City’s performance began to falter during the final 30 minutes. This disappointing loss to Real Madrid was a wake-up call for City, reminding them of the need for consistency, particularly in the race for a Champions League qualification spot.

The Sky Blues had been incredibly inconsistent throughout the season and suffered a demoralizing 5-1 loss to Arsenal in their previous league match. With a critical match against Newcastle on the horizon, City had no choice but to focus on securing all three points to keep their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League next season alive. Despite their quality, City’s inability to perform consistently had been a recurring theme. Pep Guardiola would need to make some tough decisions ahead of the game, with several key players dealing with injuries. In this context, the injury situation at both Manchester City and Newcastle United became all the more crucial.

Rodri, a key player for City, has been out since September after suffering a serious ACL injury. The absence of the Ballon d’Or winner has been a significant blow to City’s midfield. Despite his injury, Rodri was included in the squad for the Champions League knockout stages, and he has been working towards a return before the end of the season.

Jack Grealish, who had impressed in the opening stages of the Real Madrid match, was forced off with an apparent muscle problem. Guardiola was uncertain about the severity of Grealish’s injury but noted that if it were muscular, he might not feature in the next two games. The loss of Grealish would be a blow for City, especially considering his contributions in recent matches. Manuel Akanji, too, picked up an injury against Real Madrid and is being assessed. Like Grealish, Akanji is a doubt for the upcoming clash with Newcastle, and his absence would leave City even more short-handed defensively.

Oscar Bobb, a product of City’s academy, has missed the entire season due to a leg problem. He had returned to training but picked up an ankle injury before the FA Cup win over Leyton Orient, which kept him sidelined once again. His continued absence leaves City without another attacking option as they face a crucial run of fixtures. The situation at City was becoming increasingly complex, and Guardiola was aware that his team needed to dig deep to find a way to get back to winning ways.

Newcastle United, too, were dealing with injury concerns ahead of their trip to the Etihad. Dan Burn, a key defender, was forced to leave the pitch during the FA Cup victory against Birmingham City due to a groin issue. Eddie Howe, Newcastle’s manager, was hopeful that the injury wasn’t too severe but acknowledged that Burn’s situation would need to be assessed further.

Burn’s absence would leave Newcastle short in defense as they prepare to face a dangerous City attack. Sven Botman, another crucial part of Newcastle’s defensive line, had just started to regain his form after recovering from an ACL injury. However, during the semi-final against Arsenal, Botman sustained a knock to the opposite knee. While the injury wasn’t expected to be serious, Howe confirmed that Botman would miss the weekend’s match against City and would require further evaluation before being considered for future matches.

Joelinton, one of Newcastle’s most influential players, was also out of action. The Brazilian midfielder had been a key figure in Newcastle’s success this season, forming a strong partnership with Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali. However, Joelinton was dealing with a knee injury and had missed the second leg of the semi-final against Arsenal. Howe revealed that Joelinton would be out for a few weeks but reassured fans that the injury was not serious. Despite this, the loss of Joelinton would leave a hole in Newcastle’s midfield for the upcoming fixtures, including the match against City.

Harvey Barnes, another important player for Newcastle, had been sidelined for much of 2025 with an injury sustained during a match against Bromley. Although Barnes had been making progress in his recovery, he suffered a minor setback, which delayed his return to full fitness. Howe explained that Barnes was about two to three weeks away from making a return. His absence further depleted Newcastle’s attacking options as they prepared for a challenging match against City. Jamaal Lascelles, the experienced central defender, had been out for the last year with an ACL injury and was still working his way back to full fitness. While Lascelles was expected to return before the end of the season, his precise return date remained uncertain.

As both teams dealt with significant injury concerns, the upcoming match between Manchester City and Newcastle United took on added importance. City knew they needed to find a way to secure all three points if they were to keep their Champions League qualification hopes alive. The inconsistency that had plagued their season needed to be addressed, and Guardiola was under pressure to make the right tactical adjustments. The injuries to key players only added to the challenge. For Newcastle, despite their own injury woes, the match against City represented a chance to strengthen their position in the league and potentially derail City’s ambitions.

The stakes were high for both teams as they headed into this crucial Premier League fixture. Manchester City had the quality to bounce back, but they would need to overcome their injury problems and find a way to maintain their intensity over the full 90 minutes. Newcastle, too, would be missing key players, but they had shown resilience throughout the season and were determined to make a strong showing at the Etihad.

Guardiola’s side had the ability to turn things around, but their form had been unpredictable, and the pressure was on them to deliver. As they faced off against Newcastle, City would need to stay focused and make the most of their attacking options, despite the injuries to Grealish, Akanji, and others.

For Newcastle, this match presented an opportunity to make a statement and prove that they could compete with one of the league’s top sides, even without some of their key players. The outcome of this match would have significant ramifications for both teams as they continued their campaigns in pursuit of European football next season. The injury lists were long for both sides, and the game promised to be an intense and hard-fought contest. As the match approached, both managers, Guardiola and Howe, would be hoping for a positive outcome despite the challenges they faced in terms of squad fitness and availability.