Newcastle Defender Ruled out for Eight Matches

Newcastle United have found themselves navigating a challenging turn of events ahead of their UEFA Champions League campaign. Veteran centre-back Jamaal Lascelles—long sidelined with a ruptured ACL—has been ruled out of their eight ‘League Phase’ Champions League matches. Despite recovering from his injury, manager Eddie Howe excluded him from the 25-man List A squad, redirecting his focus towards fellow defenders Malick Thiaw, Sven Botman, Fabian Schär, and emergency cover Emil Krafth .

Lascelles’ omission is explained partly by UEFA’s squad regulations, which limit clubs to 25 players on their main List A, mandating that at least eight spots must be reserved for locally or association-trained players, with no more than four in each category . Strategically, Newcastle opted to prioritize squad balance and available match-fit personnel.

Concurrently, young talents Lewis Hall and Lewis Miley found themselves sidelined from the main squad—but not due to injury. Instead, both have been placed on UEFA’s List B, designed to accommodate under-21, homegrown players without consuming slots on List A . Hall (born 2004) and Miley (born 2006) meet the age and eligibility requirements, bypassing the need for full registration and preserving critical flexibility for the senior squad .

This double-pronged move has potentially wide-reaching implications. For Lascelles, the phase-long absence means missing high-profile fixtures against heavyweights like Barcelona, PSG, Benfica, and others—a blow to Newcastle’s defensive continuity and leadership on the pitch. In contrast, Hall and Miley’s demotion to List B is less about punishment and more a reflection of tactical squad management. It underscores Newcastle’s belief in their potential, albeit off the pitch for now.

Looking ahead, UEFA regulations allow clubs to modify List A between the group and knockout stages, with a submission deadline of 5 February 2026 . This offers Newcastle an opportunity to recalibrate their squad—potentially reintegrating Hall, Miley, or other players—as their Champions League journey evolves.