Howe and Newcastle battle on despite fresh injury setback
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has vowed not to give up on the race for European football in the face of a seemingly unending injury crisis.
The Magpies boosted their hopes of securing a top six finish with Saturday's remarkable 4-3 victory over West Ham, a game in which they trailed 3-1 with just 13 minutes left.
It came at a cost, though, with skipper Jamaal Lascelles rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, an injury which could sideline him for up to nine months.
Lascelles is Howe's latest long-term casualty, but as he prepared for tonight's home clash with Everton, the head coach was refusing to throw in the towel.
He said: “There was always that feeling that the season was alive but, of course, you have to win games and the more you don't win, the more the season slips away very quickly. We know the quality of the league and we know how difficult it is to win consistently, but that's what we're chasing now.”
Lascelles' misfortune represents a huge blow, coming less than a fortnight after fellow central defender Sven Botman was ruled out for a similar period with a similar injury.
It is the latest long-term injury blow for a club which has suffered more than its fair share this season.
Keeper Nick Pope - who is still sidelined - and frontman Jacob Murphy have dislocated shoulders, defender Dan Burn broke a bone in his back, Joelinton damaged a thigh tendon, Joe Willock sat out extended periods with hamstring and Achilles injuries and striker Callum Wilson is currently recovering from pectoral muscle surgery. Harvey Barnes, whose two goals as a substitute on Saturday ultimately saw off the Hammers, spent four and a half months in the treatment room with a toe injury before his return to action last month, while Emil Krafth, Matt Targett and Elliot Anderson, as well as the suspended Sandro Tonali, have all missed significant periods.
But Howe added: "The spirit is still there and that's the most important thing beyond anything. If you have spirit, you have a chance."
To add to his selection woes, Anthony Gordon is suspended for tonight after his red card against West Ham.