Eddie Howe has confirmed that Harvey Barnes will miss Newcastle’s clash with Manchester City on Wednesday evening after the winger sustained a ‘substantial’ injury.
Barnes was substituted early on in Newcastle’s 8-0 win at Sheffield United on Sunday, having gone down in discomfort with a foot problem.
The summer signing has since been assessed and Howe said Newcastle are awaiting for a specialist to confirm the extent of the issue, but Barnes is facing a spell on the sidelines with a ‘substantial injury’.
“I think it is an injury to his part of the foot below the toe. I think it is a substantial injury,” Howe said at his pre-match press conference.
“We have had it scanned and we are waiting for a specialist to say whether it needs surgery or not.
“I think it was just [from] pushing off to run. A very unusual injury.
“We have got a couple [of other injuries] in there. Naturally, from the three games and such a physical effort is something we have got to get used to, but we have a few in there.”
Newcastle take on Manchester City at St James’ Park on Wednesday evening, as the Magpies begin their League Cup campaign. Howe’s team reached the final of the competition last season, but the Newcastle boss admits his team have been given ‘the draw that no-one wants’.
“There is not one tournament that is more important than the other. I have told the players that. Our most important game is the next game and that is what we will do. We will focus our energies on that game and getting the best result we can.
“It’s the draw that no-one wants because for me they are the best club team in the world and have been for some time. The test is there for us and we also want to attack it and show that we have strength in depth and compete on all fronts. This is the ideal place to show that.
“The spirit is high but I think nothing can replicate scoring goals. The rhythm was good at the weekend and different goalscorers as well. Long may that continue.”
