Callum big loss for Toon
STEVE BRUCE has admitted Newcastle have suffered a devastating blow after star striker Callum Wilson was ruled out for two months.
Top scorer Wilson, with 10 goals, limped off in the first half against Southampton last week, with scans revealing he has picked up a serious hamstring tear.
And with the injuries mounting up, Bruce has blamed the number of games for their fitness problems.
“Without Callum it will be hard core,” said the Newcastle boss. “He has been terrific. It will be difficult to replace him.
“Losing the centre forward for weeks is a bitter pill to swallow.
“We hoped it was a grade one, two to three weeks, but it is worse than that. We have to be without him for six to eight weeks, but we won’t put a time scale on it. It is devastating news for us.”
With Fabian Schar and Javier Manquillo also out for between six to eight weeks, Bruce added: “We are all struggling with muscle injuries, the sheer number of games and no rest between.”
THOMAS TUCHEL had Tammy Abraham to thank for setting up an FA Cup quarter-final against Sheffield United.
The Chelsea boss was left fuming as Barnsley matched his superstars for an hour, until Abraham tapped in the winner from Reece James’ cross.
Tuchel needed a half-time rejig as Barnsley outworked his players and missed two good chances of their own.
Abraham is loving the FA Cup this year. This was his fourth goal, after his fourth-round hat-trick against Luton.