BRIGHTON, ENGLAND - MARCH 20: Isaac Hayden of Newcastle United receives medical attention during the Premier League match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Newcastle United at American Express Community Stadium on March 20, 2021 in Brighton, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
Newcastle will be without Barnes for’months rather than weeks’ due to an injury.
NEWCASTLE winger Harvey Barnes might be out for months as he awaits a specialist’s decision on a foot injury suffered at Sheffield United.
The 25-year-old limped out of Sunday’s 8-0 Premier League thrashing at Bramall Lane after only 12 minutes, and head coach Eddie Howe worries he may miss a large amount of the season due to surgery.
When asked if Barnes might be out for a while, Howe answered, “Yes, we’re afraid he will be.” It’s challenging. I don’t want to place a time limit on it until we hear from the specialist, but I believe it will be months rather than weeks.”
The England international, who joined the Magpies from Leicester in the summer, was injured when pushing off to run in South Yorkshire and has subsequently undergone a scan.
“It’s an injury to a part of the foot just below the toe,” Howe explained. I believe that is a serious injury. We’ve had it scanned, and we’re now waiting for a specialist’s advice on what to do next, including whether surgery is necessary.
“I don’t believe it was a tackle; I believe it was just pushing off to run, which is a very unusual injury.” I won’t go too technical because I’m not a doctor, but that is highly unique.”
Any extended absence would be a setback for both a player eager to establish himself on Tyneside – Sunday’s game was only his second start for his new club – and his employers, who invested heavily in his services during their latest spending spree in preparation for a season that includes Champions League football for the first time in two decades.
“He was down after the game because he knew it wasn’t a normal injury where you feel a muscle and think it might be one or two weeks,” Howe explained.
“This was a slightly more complex issue, and I believe he feared the worst because he was alone and it was one of those mechanisms where he knew something wasn’t quite right.”
“There’s no doubt he’ll be disappointed because he was eager to demonstrate his worth and value, and Sunday was an opportunity to do so.” But whatever the injury is, we’ll support him because we know he’s a top-tier player with a significant role to play.”
Barnes’ injury came as Newcastle switched their attention away from a stunning afternoon against the Blades and onto the prospect of beating Treble-winners Manchester City in the League Cup, the only trophy Pep Guardiola’s men did not win last season.
The third round draw could hardly have given the Magpies, who fell to Manchester United in last season’s final, a more harder challenge, despite Guardiola admitting that he would make sweeping changes due to injury.
Guardiola has admitted that he is concerned about further injury to Kalvin Phillips, who is due to make a rare start for City tonight.
Although Jack Grealish and Mateo Kovacic are available, City will be missing John Stones, Bernardo Silva, and Kevin De Bruyne, and Rodri is suspended for three games following his red card against Nottingham Forest.
The journey to St James’ Park on Wednesday is the first of four away games in less than two weeks, with City also visiting Wolves, Leipzig, and Arsenal.
“We used it, when we won a few times in this competition, at the beginning of the season, there are four, five, six players who maybe don’t play regularly and it’s perfect because it’s better than training sessions to play a game,” Guardiola said.
“But everyone was in good shape, and we formed a strong side.” But this is an exceptional case.
“We have a lot of injured players and a lot of players who have played a lot of minutes – with the national team, with the team – and they need to rest because tomorrow is important, but Wolves, Leipzig, and Arsenal are much more important.”
“The guys who didn’t play much are going to play and see what happens with the rest to try to make a good starting XI and travel there to win the game.”
However, Howe, who is missing the injured Joe Willock and Joelinton in addition to Barnes, is refusing to be swayed by the Spaniard.
“Pep is a manager who has won so much, and he hasn’t done it without giving everything to every moment in order to achieve that success,” he remarked. I am confident that we shall see the greatest Manchester City tomorrow.”
