Double blow for Magpies as strikers miss Brighton visit
NEWCASTLE United have been dealt a huge blow after being forced to rule out Aleksandar Mitrovic and Dwight Gayle for the crunch clash with Brighton this weekend.
Both players left the field with head injuries on Tuesday night against Cheltenham Town and FA guidelines mean they will not figure against the Seagulls.
A United statement read: “Newcastle can confirm Aleksandar Mitrovic and Dwight Gayle will miss the club’s Sky Bet Championship fixture against Brighton on Saturday after both players suffered concussions during the Magpies’ midweek EFL Cup game against Cheltenham Town.
“The club is adhering to the FA’s concussion guidelines, which stipulate a phased ‘return to play’ protocol over a period of at least six days before players resume competitive football.”
Club doctor Paul Catterson, Newcastle’s head of sports medicine and science, said: “The treatment and management of concussion in sport has received deserved attention in recent years.
“We have to adhere to the guidelines set out by the FA in line with other competitive sports.
“They rightly put the safety and health of players first.”
Mitrovic was forced off in the Tyne-Wear derby earlier this year after taking a blow to the head with Dr Catterson rightly overseeing the welfare of the player again on that occasion.