Mikel Merino has been joined on the treatment table by two star Newcastle team-mates ahead of an important stretch of the season.
Newcastle United have dropped into the bottom half of the Premier League for the first time since August with their 1-0 home defeat to Bournemouth.
And the Magpies have some tricky tests to come, with Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City all to play before the turn of the year.
That would be enough to cause Rafa Benitez quite some concern and the Newcastle boss then lost star man Mikel Merino to injury ahead of last Monday’s defeat to Burnley.
Newcastle toiled without Merino in the midfield as a number of loose passes allowed Bournemouth to break, putting pressure on the home goal that resulted in Steve Cook’s late winner.
And Benitez was dealt two further blows as Jamaal Lascelles and Christian Atsu were both withdrawn with knocks of their own.
Now, heading into their trip to Old Trafford, Newcastle could be without Lascelles, Merino and Atsu – their three best performers this season.
Lascelles has been influential at the back, while Merino has dictated play and Atsu’s pace has been key on the counter-attack.
Newcastle may well have to change their whole approach to address the problems caused by these absences in the coming weeks.
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