Newcastle star stretchered off in agony as things go from bad-to-worse for Eddie Howe

Newcastle’s summer from hell has continued with what could be a serious injury to midfielder Joe Willock. The English talent was involved in a late collision in a pre-season friendly against a K-League XI in South Korea and needed a stretcher to leave the pitch. The clash happened in the closing moments of the matchAFP And it was instantly clear all was not well with Willock who looked in serious pain He went to contest a 50/50 challenge in the final minutes and was signalling to the bench for help before even hitting the ground. Those in attendance in Suwon reported that it looked like a serious injury and he was clutching onto the back of his ankle. He covered his face to hide his pain as he was stretchered off by medics. Giving an update post-match, manager Eddie Howe said: “I don’t have a major update yet but it didn’t look great on the pitch. “But at this moment, it doesn’t look like a major, major injury. And fingers crossed it’s not, because Joe has suffered enough. Hopefully he’s OK.” Willock made 41 appearances for Newcastle last season and has become a key figure since his move from Arsenal in 2021. To make matters worse, his injury came during a 1-0 defeat, the Magpies third of pre-season after losing 3-2 to Arsenal and 4-0 to Celtic. And if that wasn’t bad enough, things aren’t looking too rosy in the transfer market. Newcastle won their first domestic trophy in 70 years with the Carabao Cup last season and also booked Champions League football with a fifth-place Premier League finish. Yet despite the extra games a return to Europe will bring, they’ve so far just brought in Anthony Elanga from Nottingham Forest for £55million. Willock needed to be stretched off the pitch, causing plenty of concern during a disruptive summer There was already enough worry at St. James’ Park that Isak could be leavingGetty On top of that, star striker Alexander Isak is wanted by Liverpool, and hasn’t attended pre-season with manager Eddie Howe recently admitting there’s ‘no chance’ he’ll return for their friendly fixtures. Even if the Swede does end up staying, recruits need to be bought in, and Howe isn’t sounding positive. “We’re not deluded,” he said. “We know we need to bring players in. We’ve known that. We know what we wanted. “It’s been a challenging window.” Newcastle will face Tottenham in their next pre-season friendly on Sunday. Their first Premier League match of the season is a trip to Aston Villa on August 16.

Musventurenal

0 3

Newcastle star stretchered off in agony as things go from bad-to-worse for Eddie Howe

Newcastle’s summer from hell has continued with what could be a serious injury to midfielder Joe Willock.

The English talent was involved in a late collision in a pre-season friendly against a K-League XI in South Korea and needed a stretcher to leave the pitch.

The clash happened in the closing moments of the match

And it was instantly clear all was not well with Willock who looked in serious pain

He went to contest a 50/50 challenge in the final minutes and was signalling to the bench for help before even hitting the ground.

Those in attendance in Suwon reported that it looked like a serious injury and he was clutching onto the back of his ankle.

He covered his face to hide his pain as he was stretchered off by medics.

Giving an update post-match, manager Eddie Howe said: “I don’t have a major update yet but it didn’t look great on the pitch.

“But at this moment, it doesn’t look like a major, major injury. And fingers crossed it’s not, because Joe has suffered enough. Hopefully he’s OK.”

Willock made 41 appearances for Newcastle last season and has become a key figure since his move from Arsenal in 2021.

To make matters worse, his injury came during a 1-0 defeat, the Magpies third of pre-season after losing 3-2 to Arsenal and 4-0 to Celtic.

And if that wasn’t bad enough, things aren’t looking too rosy in the transfer market.

Newcastle won their first domestic trophy in 70 years with the Carabao Cup last season and also booked Champions League football with a fifth-place Premier League finish.

Yet despite the extra games a return to Europe will bring, they’ve so far just brought in Anthony Elanga from Nottingham Forest for £55million.

Willock needed to be stretched off the pitch, causing plenty of concern during a disruptive summer

There was already enough worry at St. James’ Park that Isak could be leaving

On top of that, star striker Alexander Isak is wanted by Liverpool, and hasn’t attended pre-season with manager Eddie Howe recently admitting there’s ‘no chance’ he’ll return for their friendly fixtures.

Even if the Swede does end up staying, recruits need to be bought in, and Howe isn’t sounding positive.

“We’re not deluded,” he said.

“We know we need to bring players in. We’ve known that. We know what we wanted.

“It’s been a challenging window.”

Newcastle will face Tottenham in their next pre-season friendly on Sunday.

Their first Premier League match of the season is a trip to Aston Villa on August 16.