Newcastle United can trigger Champions League loophole – spot available for new signing

Newcastle United can exploit Champions League loophole after losing Fabian Schar for three months.

Newcastle United are back in Champions League action on Wednesday night as they host PSV Eindhoven in their penultimate league phase fixture.

The Magpies are on the brink of qualifying for the knockout stages of the competition, with a single point from their remaining two matches likely to be enough for a play-off spot.

And Eddie Howe’s side will hope to get the job done this week to remove any kind of pressure heading into next Wednesday’s daunting trip to current holders Paris Saint-Germain.

United sit 12th in the Champions League table. Finishing anywhere between 9th and 24th will see Newcastle compete in a two-legged play-off game in February, with the winner advancing into the round of 16.

Howe’s must finish inside the top eight to progress into the last 16 automatically, though that would require them to beat both PSV and PSG, and hope results elsewhere go in their favour.

Newcastle United defensive issues ahead of PSV clash
Dan Burn could return for next week’s trip to Paris but for the visit of PSV, the Magpies have just senior defenders available in Kieran Trippier, Malick Thiaw, Sven Botman and Lewis Hall, all of whom played 90 minutes in the goalless draw at Wolves on Sunday.

Both Emil Krafth and Jamaal Lascelles haven’t been involved in the matchday squad since November, with Krafth recovering from a knee issue, while Lascelles is working on his fitness ahead of potentially leaving the club this month.

Burn is closing in on a return but United have lost both Fabian Schar and Tino Livramento in recent weeks. Neither player is due to return any time soon.

Newcastle United can exploit Champions League rule after three-month injury blow
Schar is expected to be sidelined until April at the earliest after undergoing ankle surgery last Thursday. And with the length of time the Swiss centre-back will be out for, the Magpies could exploit a newly-introduced Champions League rule.

Newcastle can add a player to their Champions League squad if “an injury or illness is considered long-term if it lasts at least 60 days as of the day the injury or illness occurred,” as UEFA Article 31.14 C states. “If the outfield player recovers before the end of this 60-day period, the player remains nonetheless not eligible to participate in any UEFA club competition until the end of such period.”

“The club must provide UEFA with the necessary medical evidence in one of UEFA’s official languages,” the UEFA handbook states. “Before confirming the replacement, UEFA may require further medical examination of the outfield player by an expert appointed by UEFA at the club’s expense.

“Once the injured or ill outfield player is fit to be fielded again, he becomes eligible and/or can resume his position in place of his substitute, who must consequently be removed from the list. The return of the original outfield player must be announced to the UEFA administration at least 24 hours before the next match in which the original outfield player is due to play.”

Who could come into Newcastle United’s Champions League squad?
Newcastle omitted Lascelles and goalkeeper John Ruddy and Mark Gillespie when they submitted their Champions League ‘List A’ at the beginning of the season.

It would therefore make sense for the Magpies to replace Schar with another centre-back in Lascelles but as mentioned, the 32-year-old isn’t currently training with Howe’s squad and could leave before the winter window shuts on Monday, February 2.

Instead, Newcastle will likely keep the spot free for a potential new signing, with recruitment chiefs exploring the market for a defender or it could go to Matt Targett should he be recalled from his loan spell at Middlesbrough.

As it stands, Targett is set to get his wish of remaining on Teesside, but the situation could change quickly depending on United’s defence fairs in the coming weeks.