Newcastle United star isn't '100 per-cent fit' - is a doubt for Chelsea clash after triple injury blow

Newcastle United will make checks on three players ahead of Tuesday evening's Carabao Cup quarter-final clash away to Chelsea (kick-off 8pm).

Alexander Isak (groin) missed the Magpies' 3-0 win against Fulham on Saturday while Fabian Schar (glute) and Joelinton (hamstring) were forced to withdraw in the first half.

Isak missed five games with a groin injury between October and November but was thrust back into action by starting five consecutive matches against Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United, Everton and Tottenham Hotspur.

He was dropped to the bench in place of Callum Wilson for Wednesday's Champions League exit against AC Milan but played the final half an hour. Against Fulham, he was left out of the squad altogether.

“Alex isn’t doing too bad," said Howe. "He’s been playing recently, but still isn’t 100 per cent with a groin problem. We just felt today was probably the right time to take him out. He’s put himself on the pitch for us because Callum’s not been fit, and he’s played a lot of minutes.

"But he’s not 100 per cent fit, and I want to try to get him 100 per cent if physically possible. But with the further injuries we’ve had, I don’t know if that will be the case."

Meanwhile, Schar was substituted just 13 minutes after pulling up when running forward. Not long after, Joelinton went down clutching his hamstring after aiming a shot over Bernd Leno's goal.

Howe told NewcastleWorld: “Obviously that is the negative. We don't think they're serious, but certainly to come off the pitch, they're short-term problems for us that we can't navigate easily at the moment.

"We were thinking that possibly we were through the worst of our injury situation. Now it's reared its head again in a negative way, so let's just see where we are tomorrow."