Aleksandar Mitrovic and Dwight Gayle picked up head injuries in the EFL Cup and will now have to sit out the crucial Championship match.
Newcastle United’s Aleksandar Mitrovic is substituted after sustaining an injury
Newcastle may have beaten League Two side Cheltenham Town in midweek but the match was not without consequence as the returning Mitrovic and top scorer Gayle picked up head injuries that will keep them out for at least the next match.
This weekend sees the Magpies face a high flying Brighton side in an early season clash between two promotion contenders at St. James’ Park.
But United will be distinctly short of firepower as Gayle, who has four goals in as many Championship matches for his new club, and Serbian international Mitrovic will not be involved.
Mitrovic made his long awaited return to the first-team after sitting out the opening four matches of the season through suspension and now it seems his league return will also be delayed for at least another week.
Newcastle’s Dwight Gayle celebrates scoring their third goal with Jonjo Shelvey
This double blow will prompt manager Rafa Benitez to reshuffle things ahead of the Seagulls’ visit with Ayoze Perez staking a good claim for the striker spot after bagging a brace against Cheltenham.
Other options include teenager Adam Armstrong who netted 20 goals in League One last term and he could be given the chance to start his first match of the season on Saturday.
Yoan Gouffran has seen a recent resurgence after being brought in from the cold by Benitez and could possibly play in a forward role if needed.
Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez
Under Benitez, Newcastle tend to play with a lone striker and while Gayle and Mitrovic are capable of spearheading the Magpies’ attack, there are doubts as to whether the rest are up to the task so perhaps the Magpies boss will adopt a slightly more unorthodox approach.
Nonetheless, this injury news hasn’t gone down particularly well with fans – here are some of their reactions:
Newcastle’s Aleksandar Mitrovic looks dejected
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