Newcastle United manager Matthias Jaissle has confirmed that right-back Amar Dedic will be sidelined for the upcoming Premier League fixture on Saturday, dealing a blow to a player who had quickly established himself as a key figure in the Magpies' backline.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Jaissle did not mince his words when addressing the fitness of the summer signing from Benfica. "Amar will not be able to play on Saturday," the German coach stated, though he offered little further detail on the exact nature of the issue or a potential return date.
Dedic's absence is a notable setback given the impact he has made since arriving at St James' Park. The Bosnian international has been Newcastle's preferred option at right-back this season, starting ahead of Tino Livramento in all four of the club's Premier League matches so far. His standout contribution came in matchday two, when he provided an assist during Newcastle's 2-0 victory away at Tottenham Hotspur.
With Dedic ruled out, the door now opens for Livramento to stake his claim for a starting role. The England international's season got off to a difficult start after he was forced to withdraw from the World Cup over the summer due to a calf problem. Now fully fit, he will be eager to seize the opportunity presented by his teammate's absence and impress Jaissle, who only recently took charge of the club.
Jaissle's arrival on Tyneside came after he left Saudi Arabian outfit Al Ahli to succeed Eddie Howe, who stepped down as Newcastle manager during the summer transfer window. The managerial change has coincided with a significant reshaping of the Newcastle squad, with several prominent names departing St James' Park in recent months.
Midfield stalwart Sandro Tonali left for Tottenham, while Bruno Guimaraes made the switch to Arsenal. Forward Anthony Gordon was sold to Barcelona, further altering the composition of the squad Jaissle inherited. Striker Nick Woltemade also departed on loan, joining Juventus in pursuit of more consistent playing time. Elsewhere, Manchester United had expressed interest in left-back Lewis Hall, the former Chelsea defender, but that interest never developed into a formal move.
Despite the turnover in personnel, Jaissle's start to life as Newcastle manager has produced mixed results. His side have won once and drawn twice in his first four matches at the helm, showing signs of steady progress under the new regime. However, that positive momentum was halted in emphatic fashion in his most recent outing, as Newcastle suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat away at Leeds United, a result that will have given the German plenty to reflect on ahead of the weekend.
With Dedic now missing and the memory of the Leeds setback still fresh, Jaissle faces a challenging period as he looks to stabilize his team and continue building an identity following such wholesale squad changes. How Livramento performs in Dedic's absence could prove pivotal, not only for Newcastle's immediate results but also for the long-term shape of the manager's defensive plans.
Based on reporting from standard-football.