Newcastle United lose third player to season-ending injury - another could follow

Newcastle United lost two players to injury last week and with just four games remaining, it is feared their seasons are over.

The Magpies had named the same starting XI for seven consecutive games but were forced into a change for the 4-1 win over Ipswich Town. Joe Willock stepped in for Joelinton, who has been struggling with a knee injury.

Joelinton missed the whole of February after first sustaining the issue in the 2-1 defeat to Fulham. That ruled him out of five matches before he returned for the FA Cup fifth round exit to Brighton & Hove Albion.

The Brazilian went on to play 10 successive matches for club and country but having managed the issue felt he couldn’t continue against Ipswich on Saturday. He trained in the build-up to the game but felt “little bits of pain and discomfort”

The 28-year-old has now gone to visit a specialist, casting doubt over whether he’ll feature in Newcastle’s Premier League run-in, which includes away matches at Brighton & Hove Albion and Arsenal, and home games against Chelsea and Everton.

United boss Eddie Howe explained: “A few swings this week really. We lost Joelinton yesterday, his knee hasn’t felt 100% I don’t think since he returned.

“I think he’s played really well to get through what he has but he’s just felt little bits of pain and discomfort in his knee so now he’s going to go off and get a specialist opinion just to check that’s it’s OK. Fingers crossed it’s not serious but we’ll wait and see.”

Newcastle United suffer third season-ending injury

While further updates are awaited on Joelinton, Howe has confirmed Matt Targett will likely miss the rest of the campaign with a hamstring injury.

Targett made only his fifth appearance of the season after coming on as a substitute in the recent 4-1 defeat at Aston Villa. He was a notable absence from the squad versus Ipswich after Howe named two goalkeepers on the bench.

Howe continued: “And we lost Matt Targett this week to a slight hamstring problem, again nothing serious but enough, maybe, to end his season.”

Targett is the third defender Newcastle have lost to a season-ending injury this term after Jamaal Lascelles and Lewis Hall. Lascelles hasn’t featured since March 2024 as he recovers from an ACL injury while Hall was forced to undergo surgery on his foot in March.

However, in a big boost to Newcastle, Sven Botman was back among the substitutes on Saturday following 11 weeks out with a knee problem.

There were fears Botman’s season could be over after it was decided he required surgery on a knee issue that had kept him sidelined since the 2-0 Carabao Cup semi-final second leg win over Arsenal on February 5..

An initial assessment determined the Dutchman’s injury to be minor but around a month later went under the knife. Eight weeks on and Botman has made his comeback after being introduced for Fabian Schar inside the closing stages.

Howe added: “But then we’ve got Sven back and he’s such a massive player. You’re always going to get that but hopefully we can keep the majority of the squad stay fit.”

YOUR NEXT READ: 'Wonderful' - Newcastle United new signing unveiled as midfielder pictured at St James' Park.