Newcastle United defender under 'investigation' following fresh injury blow

Newcastle United are assessing Harrison Ashby after the right-back picked up a hamstring injury last weekend.

The 21-year-old, on loan at Championship side Swansea City, started against Hull City on Saturday but was forced to withdraw just 10 minutes in.

Speaking after the game, Swans boss Michael Duff feared it was a "significant" issue for Ashby, who has momentarily returned to Tyneside to be examined by United's medical team. As it stands, the Welsh outfit are unsure when the defender will return.

Duff said on Friday: "He's had a scan. I don't know 100 per cent the diagnosis on it, but the two clubs are now talking. He's gone back to Newcastle for the time being. He's their player, so they want to investigate a bit more into what it actually is.

"Ultimately, from my point of view, he's not available for the next two or three weeks. Until they do this investigation we're not quite sure where it's at."

Ashby has made 13 appearances in all competitions for Swansea since joining on loan in the summer.

January marks a year since Ashby first signed for the Magpies from Premier League rivals West Ham United. He is yet to make a competitive appearance for United but did feature in pre-season, including matches against Chelsea and Brighton at the Premier League Summer Series in the United States.

Newcastle's medical department sure is busy at the moment.

The club's absentee list is the largest in the Premier League with Sandro Tonali, Jacob Murphy, Dan Burn, Callum Wilson, Elliot Anderson, Sven Botman, Harvey Barnes, Sean Longstaff, Joe Willock, Javier Manquillo and Matt Targett currently sidelined.