Dummett in doubt after suffering muscle injury on national duty

NEWCASTLE United defender Paul Dummett is facing further assessment on a muscle injury after returning to Tyneside.

The left-back pulled up in Wales’ 2-1 defeat at the hands of Denmark in the UEFA Nations League and is doubtful for the Magpies’ trip to Burnley on Monday night.

Dummett was withdrawn from the Welsh squad that lost 1-0 to Albania on Tuesday night with Ryan Giggs declaring the Toon player as unavailable.

Losing Dummett for any length of time would be considered a major blow for Rafa Benitez.

Benitez underlined his importance last season as the 27-year-old’s absence coincided with an upturn in fortunes in the second half of the season.

He missed two games earlier this season against Leicester City and Manchester United with both games ending in defeat.

Benitez also handed Dummett the captain’s armband for United’s last game against AFC Bournemouth, which the Magpies won 2-1.

Newcastle were already looking for a left-back in the January window but any potential issues with Dummett could accelerate that search.

A board statement read last month: “The club confirmed it had been in the market in this position and wanted an offensive left-back to provide competition for Paul Dummett.

“The position remains on the club’s radar for the January transfer window.”

Newcastle could shunt a centreback into that position against Burnley with Fabian Schar and Ciaran Clark able to play on the lefthand side of a back four while Kenedy and Achraf Lazaar can also operate in that position along with Javier Manquillo.