Newcastle United are not having much luck on the injury front this season.
Alexander Isak and Sven Botman are not expected back in action particularly soon, while the likes of Harvey Barnes, Elliot Anderson and Jacob Murphy have also been ruled out.
While even a heavily rotated Newcastle side managed to thrash Manchester United in the Carabao Cup, there was another big blow at Old Trafford.
Indeed, Matt Targett – who impressed Eddie Howe with his cameo against Borussia Dortmund – lasted only a few minutes before limping off injured.
Howe has since confirmed the £15m defender’s situation is not looking good and the Newcastle boss admitted he couldn’t believe what he was seeing.
Newcastle injuries: Eddie Howe admits he’s shocked
Speaking after the game, Howe confirmed he simply couldn’t believe his luck when Targett went down to add to his injury woe.
“I just couldn’t believe what I was seeing,” he told the club’s in-house media channel.
“There was no reason for it, he wasn’t fatigued, I just think his foot is at an awkward angle. I don’t know if there was force from somewhere else but he felt his hamstring straight away and I knew he was in trouble.”
Newcastle injury news: A huge test of the squad
It was fantastic to see the squad players step up at Old Trafford.
While nothing should be taken away from them, however, Man United put in an absolutely abysmal performance.
Certainly, there will be bigger tests to come. Arsenal, Dortmund and Chelsea await in this month alone.
Newcastle haven’t had much luck with injuries but the challenge will be not to feel sorry for themselves and keep putting in strong performances. That’s all they can do.
With the absences mounting, Howe will need his squad players to keep impressing. Nothing has been proven yet.
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