Newcastle dealt double blow despite returning to winning ways against Fulham

16 December 2023 , 17:17

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Newcastle defender Fabian Schar was subbed off after just 14 minutes against Fulham (Image: ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Newcastle duo Fabian Schar and Joelinton have added to the mounting injury crisis facing Magpies boss Eddie Howe.

In the first half of Saturday's much-needed 3-0 victory over Fulham in the Premier League, Howe was given two more headaches when defender Schar and midfielder Joelinton both had to be hauled off. Switzerland international Schar was first to go after just 14 minutes, as the 31-year-old pulled up while bringing the ball out from the back and was soon replaced by Emil Krafth.

Howe notably chose Krafth over star centre-back Sven Botman, who last played in September before suffering a serious knee injury. Things got worse for the Magpies 22 minutes later, as Joelinton had to be forced off in place of 17-year-old sensation Lewis Miley, who'd end up scoring the opening goal on 57 minutes in a fairly-tale moment.

The two substitutions took place either side of a straight red card for Fulham, as in-form Mexican striker Raul Jimenez was sent off for an early bath following his dangerous aerial challenge on Sean Longstaff. 10-man Fulham held firm until near the hour mark when teenage midfielder Miley broke the deadlock with his first ever senior goal for his boyhood club.

Team-mate Bruno Guimaraes forged the opportunity by riding a couple of challenges and driving into the away side's box. The ball then ran into Miley's path and he coolly finished past Bernd Leno to send St James' Park wild. Miguel Almiron then doubled Newcastle's lead seven minutes later, stroking home after good work from Anthony Gordon before Dan Burn made it 3-0 late on.

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That was a moment of delight for Howe, whose side have been ravaged by injuries in recent months and been a huge part of they drop-off since the autumn. With £55million summer signing Sandro Tonali serving a 10-month ban for breaching betting rules, fellow new arrival Harvey Barnes has also been sidelined since September following his £38m move from Leicester.

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Joelinton became Newcastle's second first-half substitution (Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Captain Kieran Trippier was suspended for the Fulham clash due to accumulating five yellow cards throughout the first half of the season, and first-choice goalkeeper Nick Pope will be out for up to five months with a shoulder injury. There's also Matt Targett, Elliot Anderson, Joe Willock and Jacob Murphy recovering from injuries in the treatment room.

Nathan Ridley