Newcastle Injury Boost as Jaissle Prepares for Liverpool Test
Matthias Jaissle could hardly have been handed a more demanding introduction to Premier League management.
Newcastle United begin their campaign against Liverpool at St James’ Park on Sunday, 23 August, and the new manager will be expected to produce something coherent very quickly from a squad still adjusting to considerable change.
Jaissle arrived on a four year deal after Newcastle paid Al Ahli £9.5 million in compensation, replacing Eddie Howe following his departure at the end of July.
Howe left after almost five years in charge, a period which included Newcastle’s first major trophy in 70 years through the 2025 League Cup. A 12th place Premier League finish last season, however, brought his tenure to a close and opened the door for Jaissle.
Schar and Miley Nearing Newcastle Returns
Preparation for the Liverpool game has been complicated by injury concerns surrounding Fabian Schar and Lewis Miley, although Jaissle has now delivered encouraging news on both players.
Schar has been recovering from a groin problem, while Miley has been sidelined with a broken fibula.
“[Schar] is on the way back now. Hopefully, in the next days he will be included in the team training, and then we need to see if he gets some minutes already at the weekend,” Jaissle said as quoted by the Newcastle World.
The Newcastle manager offered a similarly positive assessment of Miley.
“Like with Fabian, we’re hoping that in the next few days, [Miley] can be in the team sessions integrated, um, and hopefully, also he will get some minutes then.”
Their potential returns would offer Newcastle a timely lift before Liverpool arrive on Tyneside.
Liverpool Fixture Offers Immediate Jaissle Test
A meeting with Liverpool will provide an early indication of how quickly Jaissle can impose himself on his new squad.
Liverpool are beginning their own new chapter under Andoni Iraola following the departure of Arne Slot at the end of last season, meaning both clubs enter the fixture in periods of transition.
Photo: IMAGO
For Newcastle, the challenge may be particularly sharp given the scale of their summer changes.
Newcastle Transfer Work Remains Unfinished
Jaissle has also acknowledged that further business is expected before the transfer window closes.
Newcastle have already lost several significant players, including Anthony Gordon, Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali, leaving the new manager with substantial rebuilding work.
“It’s a challenge, a big challenge, always when there’s a transition period, but it’s not time to complain,” he said. “It doesn’t make sense to see the negative things, we want to see the chance in that situation and that’s our approach from day one now.
“We’re here to do our best job, we want to support the players, the current squad. There will be adjustments definitely to see in the upcoming days, weeks, but for now it’s only focused on the daily work, on the work we can influence and that’s all that matters now.”
For Jaissle, that approach will be tested immediately. Liverpool represent a difficult opening opponent, while Newcastle are still attempting to assemble the squad their new manager will ultimately be judged upon.
Getting Schar and Miley back into contention would therefore represent more than welcome injury news. It could give Jaissle two valuable options as Newcastle prepare for the first major examination of his reign.