Eddie Howe admits Newcastle may struggle to field a team after latest injuries

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe has admitted he may struggle to field a team for the club’s next match, with Callum Wilson and Allan Saint-Maximin both limping off on Monday night.

Howe could only name a matchday squad of 19 instead of the usual 20 for the visit of Manchester United and included two goalkeepers on the bench to push the numbers up.

Wilson was unable to continue beyond half-time after suffering what is feared to be a calf muscle pull, while Saint-Maximin was also helped from the pitch in the closing stages.

Losing players to injury and with the persistent ongoing threat of positive Covid-19 cases, it leaves Howe in danger of not having enough players to name a team for upcoming games – Newcastle now face Everton on Thursday and Southampton on Sunday.

"The lads gave everything but we are thin on the ground in terms of bodies,” Howe told Sky Sports after the game. “These are difficult moments for us. I believe it's 13 plus a goalkeeper [players required for a game to proceed]. We're going to be dangerously close to that number.

“Callum's injury doesn't look good. Just the way he went down with no one around him. Allan, I don't think is as serious.”

Reflecting on Wilson’s status in more detail, Howe added to BBC Radio 5 Live that the striker could be ruled out for ‘weeks, maybe months’ due to the nature of the problem.

Wilson and Saint-Maximin join a list of seven other Newcastle players currently unavailable, including Joe Willock, Federico Fernandez, Ciaran Clark and Jamal Lewis.

Isaac Hayden missed the Monday night game through suspension and will at least be eligible to return for the trip to Everton later this week.

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