Abdulhafiz TeslimNewcastle United may have secured another important victory, but there was one worrying moment at The Den that could prove far more significant than it initially appeared.
The Magpies were far from their best against Millwall and were made to work extremely hard for the result. The Championship side defended stubbornly throughout the contest and frustrated Newcastle for long periods, leaving Matthias Jaissle’s players struggling to find a way through.
Eventually, Newcastle found the breakthrough.
Joe Willock came up with the decisive moment late in the game, finally breaking Millwall’s resistance and sending the travelling supporters home with another victory to celebrate.
But despite getting the result they wanted, Newcastle left London with some concern.
One of Jaissle’s most impressive players since the beginning of the season was unable to continue after the first half, with the decision to make the substitution immediately raising questions among supporters.
At first, there was no clear indication of whether it was simply part of Jaissle’s plans.
Could it have been a tactical change?
Was the Newcastle boss simply trying to manage the player’s minutes?
Or had something happened during the first half that forced the manager to make an early decision?
Unfortunately, Newcastle fans now have their answer.
Newcastle confirm injury concern
According to comments reported by the Shields Gazette, Jaissle explained the reason behind the substitution after the match.
The Newcastle head coach revealed that the player had felt something in his hamstring and that the club did not want to take any unnecessary risks.
Jaissle also made it clear that there was another reason for the change, with Tino Livramento always expected to receive more playing time after his recent return.
However, the hamstring issue is naturally what will concern Newcastle supporters most.
And the player involved is a Star player already.
He has quickly established himself as one of the standout performers in Jaissle’s new-look Newcastle side.
Since arriving at St James’ Park, the right-back has impressed with his energy, defensive work and willingness to get forward. His performances have made him one of the players supporters have been particularly excited about during the early stages of the season.
That is why seeing him withdrawn at half-time against Millwall immediately caught attention.
The positive news is that there has been no suggestion at this stage that he has suffered a major injury.
Jaissle’s comments indicate that Newcastle were being cautious rather than taking unnecessary risks with a player who had felt something around his hamstring.
Still, Newcastle cannot afford to assume that everything is fine.
A hamstring problem can develop into something more serious if a player returns too quickly, meaning the club will likely want a proper assessment before making any decision about his availability.
Livramento could now be crucial
The timing could hardly be more interesting because Newcastle already have an excellent option waiting in the wings.
Tino Livramento has returned from an injury of his own and was given additional minutes against Millwall.
The 23-year-old has already shown that he is capable of performing at the highest level, and there have been plenty of Newcastle supporters who believe he could still be the first-choice right-back when fully fit.
However, Livramento’s recent injury means Newcastle have to be careful.
Even shortly before his return, there were suggestions that he was not yet ready to play full matches from the beginning.
Now, with Dedic potentially facing a spell on the sidelines, Jaissle may have to make a difficult decision.
Does he trust Livramento to start the next match?
Or does he continue to manage his minutes carefully to avoid risking another setback?
Leeds clash now becomes even more important
Newcastle’s next Premier League test comes against Leeds United at Elland Road, and Dedic’s condition could have a major influence on Jaissle’s selection.
If Dedic is ruled out, Livramento could find himself pushed into a much bigger role much sooner than originally planned.
That would certainly be a boost in terms of Newcastle’s options, but the club will not want to solve one injury problem by creating another.
Livramento’s fitness has to be managed properly.
For Jaissle, the situation is therefore far from straightforward.
Newcastle have already shown that they have depth in the position, but the timing of Dedic’s injury concern means the manager now has to balance two things — getting his strongest possible team onto the pitch while making sure his players are not rushed back too soon.
For now, supporters will be hoping the assessment on Dedic brings positive news.
The injury did not appear to be serious based on Jaissle’s initial comments, but Newcastle will need to wait for a more detailed assessment before knowing the full extent of the problem.
Abdulhafiz Teslim
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