Major concern as Newcastle United player is spotted in knee brace ahead of Arsenal clash

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Newcastle United have an injury concern ahead of Wednesday night’s Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Arsenal.

The Magpies are closing in on a return to Wembley, after Newcastle United beat Arsenal 2-0 in the first leg at the Emirates. They are in a commanding position ahead of the second leg at St James’ Park.

However, Eddie Howe’s squad will look a bit different to how it did in the first game. Miguel Almiron has been sold, with the winger re-signing for Atlanta United. Elsewhere, Lloyd Kelly is joining Juventus.

Not only have Newcastle United sold players, but they also have an injury concern.

Joelinton scares Newcastle United fans ahead of Arsenal clash

Joelinton did not last the full 90 minutes on Saturday, as Newcastle lost to Fulham.

The Brazilian looked uncomfortable during various moments of the game, before he was replaced by Joe Willock in the 64th minute. After the game, Eddie Howe said Joelinton had a knee injury.

His status remains unclear ahead of Wednesday’s game against Arsenal, but Joelinton has provided a concerning update on his official Instagram account.

On Sunday, Joelinton posted a picture with his family, and the 28-year-old can be seen wearing a knee brace.

That is a major worry ahead of Newcastle United’s biggest game of the season.

• READ MORE: Who is Joelinton? Age, Height, Chant, Position, Socials and More

Who could replace Joelinton against Arsenal

If Joelinton is unavailable to start against Arsenal, there are three contenders to replace him.

The first is Joe Willock, who started the first leg win over the Gunners in January. He is currently out of form, with Newcastle fans concerned about Willock’s display against Fulham.

Alternatively, Eddie Howe could turn to Sean Longstaff. The local lad has been a less prominent figure as of late, with his last Premier League start coming in December against Brentford. His last start in all competitions was the FA Cup win over Bromley.

Howe’s third option is to start Lewis Miley, which would be a big call given the magnitude of the game. While the 18-year-old is an immense talent, he has only started one senior game all season.