Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez has provided updates on three first-team injuries, with the club sweating on Federico Fernandez, Ciaran Clark and Florian Lejeune.
Argentina international Fernandez suffered a hip injury against Watford at the weekend while Clark is suffering with an ankle complaint, with Lejeune on his way back from a serious knee problem.
Benitez has now admitted that the Magpies could be without both Fernandez and Clark against Manchester United on Wednesday, while long-term absentee Lejeune could return against Blackburn Rovers in the FA Cup on the 5th of January.
As quoted by the Shields Gazette, he said: “[Fernandez] has a knock in his hip, so we have to assess him on Monday, and then see what happens. We have enough bodies, but always it’s not good news to lose any player.”
“We will see [on Clark]. I was talking to him on Friday, and he said he was feeling better, but still he was feeling a little bit his ankle.”
“[Lejeune] was playing with the Under-23s, and he did well. He’s training everyday, but the problem we have is that we have too many centre-backs, and we don’t need to risk him. Maybe, it’s a chance for him in the FA Cup, because he’s training normally.”
OPINION
The biggest blow here is Fernandez without a doubt. The Argentina international veteran has been brilliant for Newcastle this season since his £4million summer switch from Swansea City, with his experience adding another dimension to an already-solid Magpies defence. His growing partnership with Jamaal Lascelles is seriously promising, and with players like Clark, Lejeune and Fabian Schar in reserve, Newcastle certainly have very few problems at the back. With regards to Clark, he is the player most likely to be available for the Manchester United clash, with the Republic of Ireland international looking on course to have recovered by Wednesday. And finally, on Lejeune, his return will be a huge boost for the Magpies. The Frenchman was a key player last season for Benitez, and while his knee injury has put him down the pecking order, there is no doubt he has the ability to become a regular starter again on Tyneside.