Newcastle United have a plethora of issues to contend with ahead of their Premier League return against Chelsea this weekend.
The Magpies are without Sven Botman, Matt Targett, Dan Burn, Javier Manquillo, Elliot Anderson and Miguel Almiron.
Alexander Isak, Callum Wilson, Harvey Barnes and Jacob Murphy are also out, while Lewis Hall cannot play against his parent club Chelsea.
Newcastle had 11 first-team players out for the 2-0 defeat against Bournemouth in their last Premier League match. That match saw Fabian Schar and Sean Longstaff play through injuries after taking knocks.
To add to their woes, Newcastle captain Kieran Trippier has withdrawn from England duties due to a personal matter, and there is no idea how long he will be out.
The schedule does not get any easier for Newcastle after Chelsea with crucial league clashes against Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Everton.
Newcastle will want to avoid dropping beyond their current seventh position in the Premier League table.
They also face important Champions League ties against AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain, which further complicate matters.
Newcaslte are currently bottom of Group F and will be desperate for all six points to salvage something from their first European campaign in over 20 years.
However, with the injury situation piling up, Newcastle manager Eddie Howe faces a crisis.
Howe could be without key goal-scorers Isak and Wilson. Both strikers have spearheaded their campaign, but Wilson will not make the Chelsea game. The manager will decide on Isak’s fitness ahead of the match.
Almiron’s absence is also a massive issue for Newcastle, with the Paraguayan playing a crucial role in Howe’s starting XI,
The depth of the squad will be tested in the coming weeks, with the manager set to turn to youth players. Young talents like Lewis Miley may need to step up from the youth ranks to fill the void.
The ability to field a competitive team in the face of adversity will determine Newcastle’s prospects in the challenging weeks ahead.
The resilience and adaptability demonstrated during this trying period could shape the narrative of Newcastle’s season and define the squad’s character.
