---
title: "Newcastle United: Steve Bruce deals Federico Fernandez blow ahead of Aston Villa"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/newcastle-united-steve-bruce-deals-federico-fernandez-blow-ahead-of-aston-villa/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Adam Clancy"
section: "Newcastle United"
published: "2021-01-22T17:05:32Z"
modified: "2021-01-22T17:05:32Z"
---

# Newcastle United: Steve Bruce deals Federico Fernandez blow ahead of Aston Villa

**Steve Bruce has dealt a fresh injury update with regards to the availability of Federico Fernandez for Newcastle United versus Aston Villa in the Premier League.**

Speaking in his pre-game press conference ahead of the match on Saturday night, the former Villa boss [said (via @NUFC)](https://twitter.com/NUFC/status/1352590962661404675) that the central defender ‘won’t be available’ for the clash against Dean Smith’s team and added that he ‘has hamstring and muscle problems and is still going to be a while off’.

\[freshpress-poll id=”343224″\]

### Fernandez will be missed for Newcastle

Fernandez will be missed by the St. James’ Park faithful as they aim to turn around a wretched run of form that has seen them not win in nine games in all competitions, with the Argentina international absent in their latest 3-0 drubbing at the hands of Arsenal ([Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/federico-fernandez/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/85475/plus/0?saison=2020&verein=&liga=&wettbewerb=&pos=&trainer_id=)).

\[freshpress-quiz id=”336603″\]

His leadership skills, given that he had been named as the captain [four](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/federico-fernandez/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/85475/plus/0?saison=2020&verein=&liga=&wettbewerb=&pos=&trainer_id=) out of his six previous appearances in the top flight, could have been vital in trying to get a result at AVFC.

The 31-year-old has also been a bit of a rock for Bruce in the heart of the defence so far in the EPL, winning 4.1 of his duels a game and also averaging 5.6 clearances and 1.5 tackles per match ([Sofascore](https://www.sofascore.com/player/federico-fernandez/38393)).

Nonetheless, he will be missing for the Tyneside club in what is a blow to their chances of winning the game.

[***In other news, find out what update Ben Jacobs has dropped on a potential takeover issue here!***](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/newcastle-united-news/newcastle-united-ben-jacobs-drops-update-on-potential-takeover-issue/)