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Opinion

10 Newcastle United players missed Burton including 3 best players – 2 weeks to go and worrying times

3 years ago
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The Newcastle United players on show at the Pirelli Stadium put in a decent performance.

Up against a team that had finished 16th in League One last season, the 2-0 victory was deserved and a first clean sheet of pre-season very welcome.

Newcastle were the better team throughout most of the game and deserved to win. However, there was very little star quality or creativity on show and you have to worry how this kind of line-up would do against Premier League opposition.

The two goal win over Burton Albion achieved with:

Woodman (Gillespie 46), Murphy (Allan 83), Schar (Lascelles 63), Fernandez (Watts 79), Krafth (Clark 63), Ritchie (Matty Longstaff 76), Hayden (Young 83), Sean Longstaff (Lewis 63), Hendrick, Joelinton (Gayle 55), Fraser (White 55)

Only two weeks to go until the Premier League kicks off and worrying times.

These were the 10 Newcastle United players who missed Burton, including the three quality players (Wilson, ASM and Dubravka) that NUFC do have, in my opinion anyway.

Here’s a rundown of the situation regarding the 10 Newcastle United players who were missing on Friday night:

Callum Wilson

BBC Newcastle report that Steve Bruce told them that: ‘Callum Wilson missed the match because of slight hamstring injury but he expects him back in training by the middle of next week. “If it was a league game tonight, I think he would have played.’

Due to hamstring problems, Callum Wilson only managed 23 Premier League starts last season. Throughout his career the striker has repeatedly been ruled out due to hamstring issues, as well as other injuries on top.

Steve Bruce has taken far too many risks in the past with players recovering from injury or carrying an injury problem, if he does this with Wilson and it goes wrong…total nightmare.

Martin Dubravka

Surgery on a broken metatarsal and will miss start of season, unknown as to exactly when we can expect him back.

Karl Darlow 

Had a bad bout of Covid and hospitalised, has been recovering at home and not training obviously. Like Dubravka, no risks can be taken and an unknown when he will be back. Seemingly no chance of making that West Ham game in 15 days time.

Allan Saint-Maximin

BBC Newcastle report that Steve Bruce said on Friday night: ‘That it’s “possible” Allan Saint-Maximin could be back from illness for the friendly against Norwich next Saturday but they’ll “have to see how he recovers”.’

With ASM missing so much training and these last two friendlies due to a mystery ‘illness’ you have to fear the worst in terms of him being available to start against West Ham in only 15 days time.

Miguel Almiron 

Due to be back on Tyneside this weekend according to Steve Bruce, though no clarification on whether he has fully recovered from his hamstring injury. Even if now injury free, with only one friendly and two weeks until season kicks off, difficult to see him able to be fully fit and ready to start against West Ham.

Elliot Anderson

Steve Bruce has confirmed his hip injury issue in recent days, after The Mail reported the young midfielder had been told to rest for at least a month to try and solve the problem.

Javier Manquillo

Has been completely missing from the friendlies due to injury and no sign of him in training last week, missing at Burton as well.

Yoshinori Muto

Clearly Newcastle trying to move him out and absent once again from last night’s friendly.

Jonjo Shelvey

Midfielder recovering from a shin injury and hasn’t featured in any friendlies, absence from training in club galleries released this week, indicating little chance of making start of season.

Paul Dummett

Had been involved in all of the first three friendlies so far but then couldn’t be seen in training images last week, missed Burton with unspecified injury. With his recurring injury problems you have to be concerned at just how much he will be available this coming season, only starting 14 Premier League matches in each of the last two seasons. Florian Lejeune let go for a pittance yet he performed very well in La Liga last season, and started (only subbed off in one) and completed far more league matches than any Newcastle defender.

***Steve Bruce has now revealed that Paul Dummett has a calf injury and is a doubt for the start of the season.

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