Hot on the heels of the devasatating news that Fabian Schar will likely miss the Wolves game, Newcastle have suffered a second blow with Andy Carroll now ruled out.
The Chronicle report Carroll felt a twinge in his groin after the Chelsea defeat, and he has now been withdrawn from this weekend’s squad as a precaution.
It has been stressed that while this is a minor setback, there are absolutely no concerns over his ankle, which is still fine.
It is disappointing for the striker, with him closing in on his first start of the season, and in fact, with Schar’s omission, Bruce may have been tempted to switch to a 4-4-2, meaning Carroll could have been given the nod against Wolves.
But as the saying goes, one player’s loss is another’s gain, and it is likely that Dwight Gayle will get an opportunity at some stage on Sunday.
Will Bruce opt to start Gayle in a 4-4-2?
Whether Bruce opts to hand him a starting place, in the aforementioned re-jigged formation, or whether he comes on from the bench, remains to be seen.
There is also an outside chance he could try Gayle in place of the struggling Miguel Almiron, but it is unlikely, with Bruce hinting earlier in the week of the Paraguayan’s inclusion.
It is far from the perfect build-up to a game Newcastle will have felt confident of winning, particularly with their opponents having an away Europa League game to play too.
And while Newcastle have enough depth to cover off the odd injury to the centre-backs, they do not have the same luxury with an ailing forward line.
Whatever he decides to do, making these big decisions is what a manager is paid to do, and it will be another test against Lee Charnley’s ridiculed assessment that Steve Bruce is the right man for the job.
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