This time last year, Newcastle United were dealing with a never-ending injury issue, with a long list of players on the sidelines.
This season has been substantially different, and it is felt that James Bunce’s entrance has had a favorable impact, as the amount of muscle injuries has decreased significantly from last year.
However, we left Birmingham with a number of concerns as Dan Burn (groin) hobbled off on a night in which Sven Botman (knee) and Anthony Gordon (quad) were also sidelined due to injury.
Major update on four injury issues.
Craig Hope of The Mail has provided a ‘exclusive’ on Newcastle United’s injury situation, offering some positive news for Eddie Howe after scans this week.
Starting with Gordon, it’s believed his quad injury has ‘cleared’, ensuring he’ll be ready for this Saturday’s trip to Manchester City, who lost Jack Grealish and Manuel Akanji to injuries in a 3-2 loss to Real Madrid yesterday night.
Burn and Botman have both averted catastrophic injuries and may be able to play in Manchester this weekend, according to ‘good’ scan results.
Hope adds that both are in pain and that late decisions will be made on their inclusion, but they have NOT sustained injuries that could limit their availability in the run-up to March’s Carabao Cup final against Liverpool. Should both miss out, Emil Krath is expected to start with Fabian Schar at Manchester City.
Last but not least, Harvey Barnes is expected to miss two weeks with a thigh injury that has kept him out since our 3-1 win over Bromley in early January.
Howe stated at the time that the former Leicester winger would be out for a month, but he appears to be on track to return before the end of the month, ahead of our FA Cup fifth round clash against Brighton.
A significant relief following January sales.
Ironically, Newcastle approved Lloyd Kelly’s loan-to-buy deal to Juventus despite having plenty of options at left center-back.
Botman has now received a knock to his knee (the opposite knee on which he had ACL surgery), and Burn’s groin ruptured in Birmingham.
Fortunately, both are okay, as is Gordon. Anything serious for the winger would have left us dangerously short on options out wide, with Almiron sold, Barnes out for another two weeks, and Murphy the sole fit right winger.
