Newcastle boss Matthias Jaissle says Ammar Dedic fit to face Liverpool

Newcastle United manager Matthias Jaissle says Ammar Dedic is ready to make his debut against Liverpool on Sunday, while urging the club’s supporters to play their part in helping his side begin the new Premier League season with a home victory.

Newcastle host Liverpool at St James’ Park in the opening round of the Premier League, with Jaissle confident his team can overcome last season’s runners-up in front of their own fans.

“It will be a great honour to be the manager of Newcastle United and to play the first game in front of our supporters,” Jaissle said at his pre-match news conference.

“At home, everything is possible and we can win against Liverpool.”

The match will be Newcastle’s first competitive fixture under Jaissle, who was appointed to replace Eddie Howe as the club’s manager.

Jaissle said new signing Dedic had been able to settle quickly because of his previous experience of working with the German coach at Red Bull Salzburg.

“He is exactly the right player for us, and the fact that he knows my way of working from the time we spent together at Red Bull Salzburg helps a lot,” he said.

“Dedic is ready to play on Sunday against Liverpool, but it is too early for Tino Livramento and Joelinton, and I expect them to be out for about two weeks.”

The manager also said Newcastle would continue to approach the transfer market carefully, despite the need to strengthen the squad during the summer.

“We want to be effective in the transfer market, but also intelligent in the way we move,” Jaissle said.

“We will only do the right things. We do not feel any urgency or pressure from outside, and we will follow our own path.”

Newcastle finished last season in 12th place with 49 points and will not compete in any European competition during the coming campaign.

They will therefore begin the new season at home, with Liverpool providing the first test of a new era under Jaissle.

The German also reflected on the injury that brought his playing career to an early end. Jaissle said the experience had been difficult, but that he had tried to use it as a source of strength.

“It was a difficult moment when I had to end my career as a player at an early age, but when you go through this gap in your life, and perhaps all of you have experienced similar stages in your lives, at some point you come out of it stronger, and that is what I tried to do,” he said.