Newcastle United manager Matthias Jaissle has given an update on a fitness worry following his team's narrow Carabao Cup victory at Millwall. The Magpies secured a 1-0 win at The Den on Tuesday night thanks to a goal from Joe Willock, but the progress was tempered by a first-half injury to defender Amar Dedic.
Amar Dedic was substituted at half-time during the match against Millwall. The defender reported feeling discomfort in his hamstring, prompting the coaching staff to act. Jaissle explained the decision. "Amar felt a little bit in his hamstring, so we didn't want to take any risk," the manager said. Tino Livramento replaced Dedic for the second half. The change was partly a precautionary measure but also served to build up Livramento's match minutes as he continues his own return to full fitness.
Matthias Jaissle expressed pride in how his team handled a difficult away fixture. He compared the physical performance favorably to the first half of their recent Premier League match against Bournemouth. "I think it's never easy playing here against Millwall, so we were aware of it, we faced it and we did it," Jaissle stated. The single goal from Joe Willock proved enough to see Newcastle United through to the next round of the competition. This result provides a positive note as the squad prepares for their next Premier League challenge, an away trip to face Leeds United on September 14th. Leeds currently sit 9th in the table.
Jaissle also addressed the situation of young forward Matias Fernandez-Pardo, who came on as a second-half substitute. The manager urged patience with the player's development. Fernandez-Pardo has not played a full 90 minutes for a considerable time. The club is managing his return to peak fitness with a gradual approach that mirrors a pre-season regimen. Newcastle United will look to start the forward in matches when there is sufficient time and he is deemed fully ready, rather than rushing him back.
The cup win comes as Newcastle United hold 7th place in the Premier League. They have taken 5 points from their first three games, with a record of one win and two draws. Their recent form reads DWD. The team has scored 6 goals and conceded 4, giving them a +2 goal difference at this early stage. They currently trail league leaders Manchester City by 4 points in the title race. Fans can track the team's progress and upcoming schedule on the club's standings and fixtures pages. The immediate focus now shifts entirely to the league, with the squad preparing for the match at Elland Road this weekend.
