Newcastle midfielder Mikel Merino is facing two months on the sidelines with a back injury in a shattering blow to the club, according to Diario AS.
The Spanish newspaper claim in their Thursday edition that the central midfielder is set to be missing for between six and eight weeks due to a vertebrae problem sustained before the international break.
The 21-year-old has missed Newcastle’s last two league matches due to injury and withdrew from the Spain Under-21 squad.
Merino has played nine games for the north-east giants since joining on an initial loan deal in the summer that was converted into an £8million permanent transfer last month when he signed a five-year contract.
OPINION
Merino has been favourably compared to Xabi Alonso, another hugely influential Benítez signing at Liverpool, and he has made a huge impression in a handful of games on Tyneside to quickly become a favourite of supporters. Credit to Newcastle’s recruitment team for sealing the deal for the player after scouting him regularly at last summer’s European Championship. His potential absence is a major blow to the Magpies, as he has emerged as a smooth operator in the middle of the park, forming a streetwise alliance with Jonjo Shelvey.