Newcastle United may have won a seven-goal thriller on Saturday, but manager Eddie Howe is left to count the cost as their injury list continues to grow.
The Magpies scored three goals in the last 15 minutes to beat West Ham 4-3 at St James’ Park in a topsy turvy contest.
Speaking to BBC Match of the Day after the final whistle, Howe said: “It tells us we have some unbelievable professionals in there and we still have a spirit that we will never give up.
“It is a game we will never forget, it was a pleasure to be a part of it and I can’t praise the players enough.”
However, Jamaal Lascelles, Tino Livramento and Miguel Almiron were all forced off through injury, while Fabian Schaar was seen holding his hamstring but completed the game. Newcastle had six first-team players on the treatment table heading into the game.
“It’s been the story of our season,” Howe lamented. “Unfortunately we were getting hit left right and centre today. We were 1-0 up and then Jamaal goes off. Miggy goes off, Anthony is sent off, Tino goes off.
“It is a catalogue one after another but the players we brought on made a positive impact and that’s the beauty of our squad.”
Howe expanded on the nature of the injuries in his post-match press conference, although could not comment on the severity of the.
“Jamaal is a knee problem but I don’t know any more than that,” he said. “Tino, I think the ball hit his ankle so it’s an ankle twist.
“Miggy twisted his knee crossing the ball but I don’t have any details.”
In a boost for Newcastle, Harvey Barnes made a huge impact off the bench, scoring twice late on. The former Leicester City winger has spent much of the season sidelined through injury, but he has appeared in six of the team’s last seven Premier League matches.
“Today I was fully fit but there have been large parts of the season when myself and others have missed because of injuries,” he told BBC.
“It has been frustrating. For me, I miss that feeling of being out there and when I am, I want to make up for lost time and today was a great step forward with that.”
