The official reason why Harvey Barnes misses Newcastle United's Premier League clash v Chelsea

Newcastle United were without Harvey Barnes for their Premier League away to Chelsea on Monday night.

Eddie Howe named two changes to the starting XI that beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-0 last time out with Tino Livramento coming in for the injured Kieran Trippier, while Miguel Almiron was preferred over Jacob Murphy.

Trippier will also miss Saturday's FA Cup quarter-final visit to Manchester City on Saturday evening as a result of his calf injury, but Barnes is the Magpies' atest injury concern.

According to Newcastle's club website, the one-time England international "misses out with a minor hamstring injury."

The 26-year-old previously spent four months out after picking up a toe injury during the 8-0 victory at Sheffield United in September. That was Barnes' only second start for the club following his £38million move from Leicester City.

He has started just one game since, the 2-2 draw at home to AFC Bournemouth, and made five substitute appearances.

Speaking recently about Barnes, Howe said: "Harvey came in and in pre-season and at the start of the season, he'd done really, really well. He scored against Aston Villa and he looked like he would have an incredible season for us. But that's football for you. One moment and he's out of action for a long period of time.

"It's more related to a lack of training in terms of seeing the very best Harvey. He needs to train for a period of time. He is a goalscorer and a scorer of important goals in his career and he will do the same here. He has already shown he will score goals regularly if given the opportunities to do so.

"He is a very important member of our squad and brings a real goal threat from that wide position so we all need to, with any player coming back from a long term injury, support them, wait and they will produce their best."