Team news | Udogie faces lengthy spell out

Ange Postecoglou reports that Destiny Udogie is expected to be out for six weeks with his recent hamstring injury.

The full-back was forced off five minutes into the second half of our 2-2 draw with Wolves last time out after going down holding the back of his right leg. The 22-year-old looked in some discomfort whilst receiving treatment and when walking off, with our Head Coach confirming post-match it was indeed a hamstring issue.

It's the latest blow in a long line of defensive problems for Ange who has been without Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven and Ben Davies as well as goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario for a prolonged period. However, Djed Spence is available again having served his one-match suspension.

Destiny had only missed one Premier League fixture up until this point, remaining an unused substitute against Liverpool as he worked his way back from with a separate thigh issue last month, yet is now set for a prolonged spell on the sidelines.

Speaking in his press conference ahead of our first outing in 2025 against Newcastle United on Saturday lunchtime (kick-off 12.30pm), Ange said: "Destiny, with his hamstring, looks around the six-week mark."

Alongside those defensive absentees, we will also be missing Rodrigo Bentancur - suspended for an accumulation of five yellow card offences - plus Richarlison, Wilson Odobert and Mikey Moore, who remain ruled out.