Keith Downie, who reports on the North East of England for Sky Sports News, recently took to Twitter to provide Newcastle United fans with an injury update ahead of the Toon’s Premier League clash with Brighton and Hove Albion on Monday evening.
Downie’s injury update concerned the Toon’s defence and the reporter revealed that five of Newcastle’s six natural centre-backs will not be available for Monday’s game.
The reporter revealed that Federico Fernandez is the only Newcastle United centre-back who will be available for the trip to the Amex Stadium.
After the Sky Sports reporter shared this injury update on Twitter, plenty of Newcastle United fans replied to the journalist’s post to react to the news.
Newcastle without 5 out of their 6 centre backs for the trip to Brighton. Fede Fernandez the only one available. Fabian Schär set for operation on dislocated shoulder. Young defender Kell Watts could play if the club can get clearance #NUFC
— Keith Downie (@SkySports_Keith) July 18, 2020
Some Newcastle United fans took the opportunity to criticise the club’s manager Steve Bruce in response to this injury update. One Toon fan declared that this is the club’s ‘second huge injury crisis under Bruce’ and called for the team’s fitness issues to be ‘investigated further’, while another Newcastle supporter claimed that the club’s injury problems will serve as a ‘ready-made excuse’ for the manager, indicating that they don’t have much faith in the Toon to get a result from the match.
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Second huge injury crisis under Bruce, This needs to be investigated further is it inadequate recovery facilities, training, fitness etc? Somethings going on or perhaps is not going on.
— Gallowgater (@gallowgater1892) July 18, 2020
You couldn’t write it https://t.co/PYlYma7EuX
— Tommy beveridge (@tommy_beveridge) July 18, 2020
Ready made excuse for the dinosaur Steve Bruce, really hope this takeover happens so we can see the back of him
— Nick woppett (@NickWoppett) July 18, 2020
One Newcastle fan replied to this tweet to state that the team are being overworked and another Toon supporter declared that they ‘just want this season to end’.
Are you excited about the possibility of seeing Kell Watts get a first-team opportunity?YES, DEFINITELY
NO, NOT REALLY
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Overworking them would be my guess. The fashionable phrase is “putting them in the red” but essentially, pushing their bodies beyond what they’re conditioned for.
— Rich Harle (@RJHarle) July 18, 2020
Everything looked so good after the first few games since the restart, now I just want this season to end https://t.co/kY861q0nqe
— James Zancudi (@zancudi) July 18, 2020
In his tweet, Downie stated that Newcastle United U23s centre-back Kell Watts could be called up to the first team to play against Brighton and some Newcastle fans had a more optimistic reaction to this team news, sharing that they believe this is a good opportunity for the club’s younger players.
Season is over now. Might be a good time to get some kids some experience. Investment this summer is needed tho
— FPL_Stottie (@NufcStottie) July 18, 2020
Would much rather see a young player like Watts get a debut, than watch Krafth miss out on every header at CB #nufc
— Charlie (@CharlieMilne1) July 18, 2020
Season’s over, might as well give youth some PL game time. #NUFC https://t.co/t0F93GNf9f
— Adam Widdrington (@AddingRandomWit) July 18, 2020
Considering that the majority of their first-team centre-backs are said to be out of action for Monday’s game, it may not come as a big surprise that plenty of Newcastle fans shared some concern in response to this news. However, as the club are already safe from relegation this season, it may be understandable why other Newcastle supporters shared a more positive reaction to this update and called for younger, more inexperienced players to get a first-team opportunity against Brighton.