Newcastle United receive MAJOR last-minute fitness boost after earlier Bruno Guimaraes blow

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Newcastle United are seeking to win their third Champions League fixture in a row this evening

Newcastle United forward Nick Woltemade
Newcastle United forward Nick Woltemade was hooked at half-time in the defeat by West Ham - but is expected to start in midweek (Image credit: Getty Images)

Newcastle welcome Athletic Club to St. James' Park tonight on the back of a disappointing 3-1 defeat by West Ham United last weekend.

Eddie Howe's side were deservedly beaten at the London Stadium as the Hammers picked up a first home win for 248 days.

Newcastle's Champions League opponents Athletic Club suffer triple injury blow

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 2: Newcastle players and manager Eddie Howe look glum as they applaud the fans during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Newcastle United at London Stadium on November 2, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Jacques Feeney/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)

Newcastle were deservedly beaten by West Ham at the weekend (Image credit: Getty Images)

The Magpies are hopeful of getting back to winning ways on home turf, where they have been especially strong under Howe, against their Basque visitors on Wednesday night.

Athletic Club are 11th in LaLiga and have lost three of their last five league matches. Ernesto Valverde's men have won one and lost two in the Champions League this term, defeating Qarabag FK last time out, but have fallen against Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund.

Athletic Club brothers Nico (L) and Iñaki Williams (R)

Athletic Club brothers Nico (L) and Iñaki Williams (R) (Image credit: Getty Images)

Athletic will be without three key players for the trip to the north-east of England, though, as the club revealed their travelling squad on Tuesday.

Spain international Nico Williams (groin), forward Oihan Sancet (hamstring) and experienced defender Yuri Berchiche (calf) are all absent for the fixture.

This is potentially significant news for Newcastle if their Brazilian skipper is unable to overcome illness and prove his fitness.

Newcastle were already favourites for this game, and will be expected to collect all three points given Athletic Club's new injured trio will play no part.

Athletic's 23-man squad list is as follows: Unai Simón, Padilla, Santos, Gorosabel, Vivian, Paredes, Vesga, Berenguer, Guruzeta, Areso, Laporte, I. Lekue, Ruiz de Galarreta, Jauregizar, Adama, Unai G., Nico Serrano, Navarro, Rego, Hierro, Ibon Sánchez, Izagirre and Selton.

Eddie Howe in the away dugout

Eddie Howe in the dugout (Image credit: Getty Images)

In FourFourTwo's opinion, Newcastle should now be considered strong favourites for the fixture.

Williams, in particular, is an extremely talented wide forward and could have caused major problems for Newcastle's remaining options in the already-depleted full-back positions.

Joe Donnohue
Joe Donnohue
Senior Digital Writer

Joe joined FourFourTwo as senior digital writer in July 2025 after five years covering Leeds United in the Championship and Premier League. Joe's 'Mastermind' specialist subject is 2000s-era Newcastle United having had a season ticket at St. James' Park for 10 years before relocating to Leeds and later London. Joe takes a keen interest in youth football, covering PL2, U21 Euros, as well as U20 and U17 World Cups in the past, in addition to hosting the industry-leading football recruitment-focused SCOUTED podcast. He is also one of the lucky few to have 'hit top bins' as a contestant on Soccer AM. It wasn't a shin-roller.

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