Newcastle United ‘frustrated’ as £50m attacking duo ruled out because of ‘strange’ injuries

Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe has admitted his frustration at losing both Jacob Murphy and Harvey Barnes to “very bizarre” injuries.

Howe is currently without eight senior players for tonight’s Carabao Cup fourth round clash at Manchester United and that picture is unlikely to get better for upcoming games at home to Arsenal in the Premier League and away to Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League.

Alexander Isak (thigh), Elliot Anderson (back) and Sven Botman (knee) are among the injuries Howe can “sort of understand” but says blows to Murphy and Barnes are “difficult to take”.

Speaking about the injury situation, Howe said: “The Jacob injury is hugely frustrating because that’s a strange injury you don’t normally see. It’s the same with Harvey – very, very bizarre injury out of nothing.

“They’re the ones you rue. It can happen, your more traditional football injuries you can sort of understand but the ones that come out of nowhere are difficult to take.”

Conversations between Howe and Newcastle’s medical team are continuing as they aim to determine whether or not Murphy needs surgery. The winger dislocated his shoulder against Dortmund last week and won’t return for the visit to Old Trafford having missed Saturday’s 2-2 draw at Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Meanwhile, Barnes won’t return until late December after he picked up a toe injury in the early stages of Newcastle’s 8-0 victory at Sheffield United in September.

The Magpies have also had to deal with losing Sandro Tonali for 10 months following an investigation by the Italian authorities into illegal betting activity.