After a difficult week, Newcastle United got back on track on Saturday.
Only days after being ruthlessly knocked out of European competition for the season, Newcastle scored three second-half goals to down a ten-man Fulham side.
For a while, it looked as if Eddie Howe’s side would toil against a depleted Fulham team following Raul Jimenez’s comical challenge on Sean Longstaff that led to his red card.
However, Lewis Miley, Miguel Almiron and Dan Burn all struck after the break to send supporters from St James’ Park home happy.
Still, as is seemingly the case every week at the moment, more injuries emerged.
Indeed, both Fabian Schar and Joelinton were forced off and Howe provided an update on their fitness.
Newcastle injuries: Fabian Schar and Joelinton latest
Speaking after the game, Howe said (via Matthew Raisbeck of BBC Radio Newcastle): “Hopefully not serious but, short-term, it doesn’t look good. We thought we were through the worst of it.
“We’ve just had no time to recover and have had to ask the players to go again and again and we’ve picked up two injuries because of that.”
Newcastle injury news: Slight positive emerges
Clearly, losing both Schar and Joelinton just a few days out from a Carabao Cup quarter-final away at Chelsea is a major blow.
Two hugely important players to the Newcastle cause, it certainly weakens their chances of progression.
In times like this, however, its important to focus on the positives.
Sven Botman finally made his return, following the likes of Burn, Sean Longstaff and Callum Wilson back from the treatment table of late.
Such has been the nature of this season, it has often been tempting to think Howe would never have his full squad available.
Slowly but surely players are returning, even if new problems emerge.
Hopefully, Schar and Joelinton are not long-term issues.
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