Martinez 'not ready' for Newcastle

The defender suffered a small injury ahead of last week’s trip to face Everton at Hill Dickinson Stadium.

He was also sidelined for Sunday’s 2-1 home victory over Crystal Palace, with Leny Yoro partnering Harry Maguire at the back in both fixtures.

Head coach Michael Carrick suggested, between those wins, that he expected Licha’s recovery to take a ‘matter of days’.

However, the quick turnaround before we travel to the north-east means the Argentina international won’t be at St James’ Park, as we seek to extend our unbeaten league run to 12 games.

“Not particularly, really, no,” Carrick said, when asked by MUTV’s Mark Sullivan if he had a positive update on Martinez.

“He won’t be with us. He’s not quite ready for that.”

Patrick Chinazaekpere Dorgu and Matthijs de Ligt will also miss the Tyneside assignment, while Mason Mount is still sidelined, although he is approaching a return.

“We’ve got one or two we’re trying to work to get them back – Mason as well, he’s getting a bit closer, so unfortunately it’s part of the game,” Michael added.

“There’s always going to be people out, there’s always going to be people missing, but we’ll keep working as hard as we can to get them back.”

Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw are doubts but being given ‘every chance’ to recuperate from illness, after they had to be substituted against the Eagles.

Shaw, who has started all 28 of our top-flight outings this season, was replaced by Noussair Mazraoui during the first half, while Maguire made way for Ayden Heaven late on.