Newcastle made seven changes against Leicester for the Carabao Cup defeat on Wednesday, with most of them enforced, according to Steve Bruce, speaking to the Chronicle after the game.
Bruce confirmed that Karl Darlow was always going to start, and that Sean Longstaff needed the rest so soon after recovering from his long-term injury.
But while Bruce is hopeful that Joelinton and Miguel Almiron will be fit to face Watford, he suffered injuries to both full-backs Jetro Willems and Emil Krafth, while Matt Ritchie is a big doubt following a disgraceful challenge from Leicester’s Hamza Choudhury.
Ritchie bravely tried to carry on, but it was clear that he would not be able to, with any weight on his leg clearly causing him significant discomfort.
The challenge saw Choudhury pick up a yellow card, but there is little doubt it should have been red.
With Watford such a huge game for both sides, Bruce will need his big names available, and although Ritchie is now a major doubt, he will be encouraged by the two substitute performances from Christian Atsu.
Atsu came on for the injured Allan Saint-Maximin at Tottenham on Sunday, and arguably changed the whole game in Newcastle’s favour.
The Ghanaian also came on for Ritchie against Leicester, and again put in a dynamic display, and had a big influence on the second half.
Christian Atsu could be set to start against Watford
With Saint-Maximin definitely out on Saturday, and Ritchie likely to follow suit, Atsu could be thrust in from the start, and both he, and Bruce, will hope he can keep his good form going.
Three points against the Hornets going into the international break, with six points in the bank, will see a positive atmosphere linger over the club for a couple of weeks, before the very tricky trip to Liverpool.
The break will also provide some much needed respite for the players carrying niggles to shake them off and come back refreshed and all guns blazing.
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