Newcastle United European rivals suffer fresh triple injury blow

Newcastle United's Premier League European race rivals Chelsea have revealed a fresh treble injury blow.

The Blues sit just one place and one point behind the Magpies in the quest to nab 6th, 7th and 8th in the top flight, all of which are spots likely to command a European place this season.

Should one of the top six win the FA Cup, as is more than possible with Manchester United and Manchester City both in the last four of the competition, Europe would be guaranteed for the top seven. Should England be awarded one of the extra Champions League slots for next season - purely dependent on performance of the remaining clubs in all three competitions - that would drop down to eighth.

As things stand, Newcastle are 10th and Chelsea 11th with 40 and 39 points respectively. Wolves in ninth are on 41, with Brighton in eighth on 42.

Newcastle host seventh-placed West Ham United - four points ahead of the Magpies - at St James' Park looking to get their season back on track. While Chelsea host Burnley, in what looks certain to be a home three points.

But Mauricio Pochettino is likely to have to take on the Clarets at Stamford Bridge without at least two, possibly three, players he was able to call upon pre-international break.

Central defender Trevoh Chalobah, according to chelseafc.com, has suffered an injury blow and has been joined by back-up goalkeeper Robert Sanchez in the treatment room.

The state: "Chalobah has started for Chelsea ar centre-back in their last four matches since the Carabao Cup Final defeat to Liverpool at Wembley.

"He has started to form a partnership with Axel Disasi and his injury is another setback for Mauricio Pochettino. Chelsea are already without Levi Colwill and Pochettino will be forced to recall either Thiago Silva or Benoit Badiashile at the heart of the Chelsea defence."

Midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka, the Blues' hero in the FA Cup sixth round, has also been added to the injury list at Stamford Bridge.

Chukwuemeka withdrew from the England Under-21 squad this week to return to Cobham for treatment.

Chelsea are already without Christopher Nkunku, Romeo Lavia, Reece James and Wesley Fofana, while Cole Palmer and Ben Chilwell are expected to shake off issues to be involved.