Newcastle United confirm £25m double injury concern as ‘big player’ set for 12 weeks out

Newcastle United were dealt two fresh injury blows during their 1-0 victory over Arsenal at St James’ Park on Saturday evening.

Anthony Gordon’s goal on 64 minutes extended the Magpies’ unbeaten Premier League run to seven matches and move within three points of the top four.

However, despite the high of beating the Gunners, the result was tinged with a little bit of disappointment after losing Dan Burn and Jacob Murphy to injury.

Burn fell awkwardly on his back in the first half before being replaced by Tino Livramento at half-time while Murphy’s shoulder popped out again just under a fortnight since he first dislocated it against Borussia Dortmund.

With Newcastle medics unable to manage Murphy through his shoulder injury, the 28-year-old is now set to undergo surgery at an estimated timescale of three months out.

Burn and Murphy’s injuries add to an already long list, including Alexander Isak, Elliot Anderson, Sven Botman, Harvey Barnes, Matt Targett and Javier Manquillo, plus the suspended Sandro Tonali.

Speaking after the win over Arsenal, Howe said: “I just think the players and group have been unbelievable. They’ve really stepped up. We’ve been in a really tough moment, we’ve got a lot of injuries and we’re playing in a lot of competitions but the players are committed to everything. I can’t praise them enough.

“Today we had to step up in a really difficult game against a top opponent stretched with injuries and losing players within the game again to injuries that I don’t think we can do a lot about.

“Dan goes for a ball and lands on his back. He’s a lot of pain in the moment so that looks worrying for us.

“Jacob, we knew there was a chance he could do his shoulder again but he was prepared to take the risk and unfortunately we lost him. We will lose him now to an operation so a difficult moment but the players responded superbly.”

Murphy was a surprise inclusion in the matchday squad having missed the last three games prior to Arsenal.

Howe explained: “Jacob came to see me and we had various discussions with the medical team. We felt it was a risk putting him back on the pitch but it was a risk he and the medical team were prepared to take.

“We knew he could potentially do it again so he will now definitely need an operation. But there was a chance also he could get through it and continue to fit and play for us. It’s a huge blow. I’m not sure but it’ll probably be three months.”

Howe previously described Murphy as a “big player”.

“I’m absolutely devastated for him,” he said after Dortmund. “We’ll wait and see how bad it is but he’s been such a big player for us playing in different positions. Great personality so we’ll miss him.”