English player faces a severe injury after the match against Arsenal

The 1-2 comeback loss to Arsenal at St James’ Park not only resulted in a disappointing point loss for Newcastle United but also raised concerns about player availability.

Right-back Tino Livramento, one of the key pillars of the “Magpies,” had to be stretchered off in the second half with a serious knee injury, causing great worry for coach Eddie Howe and the fans.

Livramento previously missed over a year playing for Southampton due to an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear. Therefore, seeing the English player lying in pain during the Arsenal clash sparked fears of a recurring injury. However, initial reports after the game suggest Livramento may not have torn his ACL again but rather suffered an injury to the medial collateral ligament (MCL), with severity depending on scan results.

Football injury expert @PhysioScout on social media platform X analyzed the incident where Livramento collided mid-air with William Saliba, causing his knee to twist outward—a common cause of MCL damage. On the field, medical staff immediately conducted specialized tests to assess the risk of ligament tearing.

According to PhysioScout’s analysis, the best-case scenario is that Livramento only has bone bruising and could return within 1-2 weeks. If it is a grade 1 MCL injury, recovery time ranges from 1 to 3 weeks; grade 2 requires 4 to 6 weeks; and grade 3 could sideline him for up to 10 weeks. Regardless, the 22-year-old defender will definitely miss upcoming matches, including the second Champions League group stage game against Union Saint-Gilloise.

Livramento’s injury adds to Newcastle’s troubles as summer signings Jacob Ramsey and Yoane Wissa are also sidelined and expected to return only after the October international break. Coach Eddie Howe will therefore have to manage with a depleted squad during a congested fixture period, balancing commitments in both the Premier League and Champions League.

While awaiting the official medical examination results, Newcastle fans can only hope for positive news about Livramento, the young defender who has gradually become one of the rare bright spots for the “Magpies” this season.