The issues facing injury-hit Newcastle heading into testing end to year
Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe has seen his resources severely depleted (Andrew Matthews/PA)
The international break could hardly have been better timed for Newcastle with the rigours of competing on multiple fronts having taken a devastating toll on their playing resources.
On Saturday, the Magpies arrived at Bournemouth without 11 senior players as a result of injury and suspension.
Here, the PA news agency takes a look at the issues facing a club which has enjoyed a swift rise under its new owners amid stiff opposition on and off the pitch.
Newcastle’s Miguel Almiron is consoled by Bournemouth’s Marcus Tavernier as he leaves the pitch injured (Andrew Matthews/PA)
Very. Head coach Eddie Howe was unable to call upon Dan Burn, Sven Botman, Matt Targett, Javier Manquillo, Elliot Anderson, Harvey Barnes, Jacob Murphy, Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson through injury, as well as suspended duo Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes, at the Vitality Stadium. The Magpies then saw Miguel Almiron added to the list when he limped off after just 31 minutes. Burn, Barnes and Anderson are facing months on the sidelines, while £55million summer signing Tonali will not be able to play again until August next year after admitting breaches of betting regulations.
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Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali has been banned for 10 months over breaches of betting regulations (Owen Humphreys/PA)
They were always likely to bolster their squad during the winter transfer window, but Tonali’s unexpected absence has made that imperative. However, they also remain short in central defence and attacking roles and all three areas are likely to be focuses.
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