In a big blow for Newcastle United, manager Eddie Howe has asserted that Jamal Lewis will miss their upcoming clash with Man City.
Lewis – who joined the Magpies from Norwich City in September 2020 – barely featured across the opening months of the season under Steve Bruce.
Lewis benefitted from Bruce’s departure
The 23-year-old won his place back following Howe’s appointment, though, and made his fourth consecutive start on Thursday night at Liverpool.
However, he picked up an injury just 15 minutes into the match and was forced off.
It appeared that the Northern Ireland international had damaged a hamstring and Howe confirmed as much during his post-match interview.
Newcastle blow confirmed by Howe
“With Jamal, it looks like a hamstring strain so that looks like he’ll be out [of the City match),” he said [BT Sport 1 16/12 21:58].
Howe then provided more detail in a subsequent interview.
“It looks bad and it looks like a hamstring problem,” he said, as quoted by Newcastle’s official Twitter account.
“I’m surprised because he’s so athletic and he’s been excellent in his athletic work. It was damaging to us to lose a sub so early on. I thought Matt Ritchie was fantastic in his place.”
This is a significant blow for Newcastle ahead of their clash with the league leaders and given that hamstring injuries are rarely overcome in a week or two, Lewis is unlikely to be seen again this year.
That’s a concern, particularly given that Paul Dummett is not yet fully fit again, as although Ritchie did well off the bench at Anfield, he’ll likely be targeted by City and others were he to be selected in a back four in Lewis’ absence.
In other news, Eddie Howe explains his surprise Anfield decision that left some Newcastle fans perplexed.
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