Newcastle United continue to lose players to injury.
While blaming all of Newcastle’s recent struggles on the absentee crisis would perhaps be too simplistic, there is little doubt Eddie Howe’s squad has been ravaged.
Sandro Tonali’s ban was one thing but the sheer number of players who have been forced out of action at times this season is absolutely staggering.
That does not excuse players for poor performances of course but it is worth considering.
As is seemingly the case with every passing game, Newcastle were dealt a fresh injury concern away at Luton on Saturday.
Newcastle injury news: Jamaal Lascelles now a doubt for Nottingham Forest game
Indeed, according to Newcastle World, Jamaal Lascelles is now a doubt for the Nottingham Forest game at St James’ Park on Boxing Day.
The defender was forced off in the first-half and Kieran Trippier duly tried to rally the troops but that was to little avail.
After the game, Howe said of the 30-year-old (via BBC Sport), “I’m not sure.
“That will need to be assessed in the next few hours.”
Newcastle vs Nottingham Forest: Must-win for Newcastle
It would be a shame for Lascelles were he to miss out of the meeting with his former club of course, albeit Sven Botman’s recent return has strengthened Howe’s defensive options.
The game feels like must-win territory now. Not for Howe’s job of course but to stop Newcastle going into crisis.
The home form has been their saving grace this season, winning eight of nine games thus far. Start losing that amid all Newcastle’s struggles on the road and serious questions about where this season is going would need to be asked.
With Forest battling relegation, losing at St James’ would be a major disappointment ahead of trips to Liverpool, Sunderland and Aston Villa coming up on the agenda.
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