FA rules block Newcastle United star from playing v Hull City after Leeds United incident
Newcastle United injuries: Newcastle will likely be without several key players for Saturday’s upcoming Premier League match against Hull City.
The Football Association’s rules are set to rule out Newcastle United midfielder Nico Gonzalez from playing any part in Saturday’s Premier League match against Hull City (3pm kick-off).
Gonzalez suffered a blow to the head in the early stages of Monday night’s 4-1 defeat at Leeds United. Despite briefly playing on, the summer signing was withdrawn as a concussion substitution with just 19 minutes played.
The score was goalless at the time, but Newcastle quickly capitulated and found themselves 3-0 down at the break before suffering their first defeat of the new season.
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They will be hoping for a reaction against Hull at St James’ Park on Saturday, but they will likely have to do so without Gonzalez. As the Spaniard was a concussion substitution, Newcastle will be required to follow the FA’s concussion protocol.
Concussion substitutions do not take up a side’s five allotted substitutions during the game. Should a concussion substitution be made, both teams are allowed to make a total of six substitutions, a rule Leeds utilised at Elland Road on Monday.
After the match, Newcastle head coach Matthias Jaissle said: “Yeah, with Nico, you know, as the manager, and also we as a club, have the responsibility.
“He had that knock-out feeling, as you all saw. We were also responsible enough to take him off the pitch, even though he looked fine then, but there are also some rules, especially for that occasion.
“Independent of how important he is, and how important it is to win the match. We're all human beings as well, and we take that seriously, so therefore we made the decision to take him off the pitch.”
FA concussion protocol
The Football Association rules state that any player who suffers a concussion must be ruled out for at least 12 days after the initial head injury, provided symptoms have cleared, or seven days if exceptional criteria are met.
That rules Gonzalez out of Saturday’s match against Hull but should see him back available after the international break. He joins Newcastle’s growing injury list which also includes Anthony Elanga, Joelinton, Dan Burn, William Osula and Ewen Jaouen.