Eddie Howe may now be forced to make major Newcastle change, it could be good news for Callum Wilson

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Newcastle United have got plenty of problems, but they suddenly have a very big one.

That is because Joelinton could be out of action for the rest of the season. He suffered an injury during the Tyne-Wear derby win over Sunderland, and it was initially feared that he would be out for six weeks.

That was a severe blow at the time, but it has suddenly got even worse. Reports are now stating that Joelinton will need surgery, and that will mean that his 2023/24 season is over.

Losing Joelinton is a huge blow, as he is one of our most important players. On top of that, it leaves Eddie Howe with just three fit centre midfielders.

As it stands, Newcastle only have Bruno Guimaraes, Sean Longstaff and Lewis Miley. But they could soon lose Bruno for two games, as he is one booking away from a Premier League suspension.

That leaves Eddie Howe in a very difficult position, as he has set his Newcastle team up to play 4-3-3 in pretty much every game of his tenure.

One solution is to sign another midfielder during the January transfer window, but that is proving to be difficult. Kalvin Phillips was linked, but our interest in the 28-year-old has now cooled.

So what are the alternatives? Newcastle either find someone else, roll the dice with three centre midfielders or they change formation.

Eddie Howe could trial new formation with Newcastle after Joelinton injury

The latter is the most interesting option, with Joelinton’s injury potentially opening the door for Howe to shift to a 4-2-3-1 shape.

That would mean he could keep one of his central players in reserve, as well as getting another attacker on the pitch.

Of course, that would be difficult right now as we do not have many attackers to choose from. But that may soon change, with Callum Wilson and Jacob Murphy potentially returning from injury very soon.

Their returns could give Howe the chance to try something different. He could bring Murphy into the side and play Almiron centrally as an attacking midfielder, or Callum Wilson could start and Alexander Isak could play slightly behind him in a deeper role. That would please Wilson, who very rarely starts when both Toon strikers are fit.

It is food for thought for Howe, who is going to have to get the most out of the players he has available, as it does not look like the transfer window is going to be the answer to our problems.

Potential XI: Dubravka; Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn; Longstaff, Bruno; Almiron, Isak, Gordon; Wilson.