NEWCASTLE: Top scorer Alexander Isak and winger Jacob Murphy added to Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United headaches as they limped out of the Magpies’ Champions League loss to Borussia Dortmund.
Howe is this morning counting the cost of the bruising St James’ Park encounter, with a recurrence of a groin problem forcing Swede Isak off and Murphy dislocating a shoulder in the 1-0 reverse. Felix Nmecha got the only goal of the game on the stroke of half-time.
Defeat leaves the Magpies likely in need of a result in the return encounter in Germany, or when they visit Paris Saint-Germain, in order to keep their Champions League last-16 hopes alive.
However, the injury news hurt Howe more than the result itself, with Murphy and Isak adding to a lengthening list of casualties, as games come thick and fast across three competitions. Howe is already without key men Sven Botman, Elliot Anderson, Harvey Barnes and now Sandro Tonali, who looks set to be handed a ban for his part in illegal betting activity in Italy.
“It’s a strange one because when you look (at some of) the injuries, Murph’s shoulder and Elliot’s back, they’re quite difficult injuries to get your head around but they happen,” said the head coach.
The battered and bruised squad head to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday in the Premier League, before a trip to Manchester United next midweek in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup.
“We have to adjust, that’s all we can do. We can’t sit here and analyze too much. At this moment it’s ‘right, get on with it, and regroup.’ Massive game at Wolves ahead.
“We’re still in a very good position in the Champions League and Premier League. Every player in the squad is vitally important and we need to pull together.”
On the diagnosis of Isak and Wilson, Howe said: “It’s difficult to tell, very early days. Alex has suffered a recurrence of his groin injury that he had during international duty. And Jacob looks like a potential dislocated shoulder. Probably on the eye, (I’m) more worried about Jacob.
“I’m absolutely devastated for him. We’ll wait and see how bad it is but he’s been such a big player for us playing in different positions. Great personality so we’ll miss him.”
One positive to the night’s work was the return to the side of Joe Willock, who has been out with an Achilles injury, among other knocks, for around five months.
The former Arsenal man’s return to the fold looks set to coincide with the unavailability of Tonali for selection.
“I’ve got no update for you, I’m afraid,” Howe said on Tonali’s situation.
“I thought he did well when he came on today, I thought he played with real quality and energy so delighted with his performance.
“The injuries forced (Willock on). We were left with one change after Alex’s early withdrawal. We made (two double substitutions) to use all our subs and try and just manage the game load for some of them. Joelinton is just back from injury so we tried to manage him so that’s why we made the change.”
While Nmecha’s clinical finish was the difference between the sides on the night, Howe thought his side were far from outclassed. Newcastle hit the bar twice in the closing 10 minutes of the rain-soaked clash.
“It just wouldn’t go in for us, would it?” he said.
“It was just one of those nights for us. We hit the bar twice and applied a lot of late pressure.
“We’re disappointed with the first half. I thought we were a little bit loose technically. It was a very quick pitch, it was almost too quick for us. We were rushed in our decision-making and that brought them into the game in transitions. Second half was much better, we got a little more control and we did have chances.
“We probably weren’t at our absolute best but in this competition it’s a lesson for us.
“It (Group F) was always going to be tight. There are top quality teams in the group. It is a blow for us, especially at home. We now have two really tough away games. It’s important we try and get something from those games.
“A lesson for us tonight on how fine the margins are. Nothing’s lost in the group. We’re still in there, fighting but we’ve got tough games ahead.”
