Eddie Howe reacts to fresh Newcastle United injury blow ahead of Manchester City clash

Eddie Howe will assess Fabian Schar’s injury ahead of next Sunday’s trip to Manchester City.

The Switzerland defender, who signed a new two-year contract with the club on Friday, limped out of the Magpies’ 1-0 defeat to Liverpool around the hour-mark.

Schar was at the centre of the Reds’ 19th-minute opener through Naby Keita with the 28-year-old dispossessed by James Milner in the build-up.

The home bench appealed for a foul but the replays showed Milner had won the ball cleanly. Eddie Howe admitted after his side would have been lucky to see VAR intervene.

Asked for an update on Schar, Howe said: “I don’t know, it was related to the tackle. I don’t know what it is.

“I haven’t spoken to him or the medical team yet. We hope it’s nothing serious but obviously, it was enough for him to come off. “

Jamaal Lascelles replaced Schar for the final half-hour to partner Dan Burn in central defence.

“If VAR doesn’t intervene, I assume we have nothing to complain about,” Howe said on the Schar incident.

“We were obviously disappointed. In the heart of defence we were light on bodies.”