Callum Wilson came off at half-time on Tuesday night (Picture: Getty Images)
Newcastle United suffered a 2-0 defeat to Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on Tuesday night and may have also suffered another injury problem as Callum Wilson was substituted at half-time.
Eddie Howe is dealing with a long list of fitness issues at the moment and he will now be sweating on Wilson’s fitness, admitting after the game that it is too early to know if the striker is a doubt for the weekend or anything more serious after feeling tightness in his hamstring.
The Newcastle boss had a threadbare squad to choose from, leaving Miguel Almiron and Anthony Gordon on the bench to give them some impact off the bench, but had to bring on Gordon for Wilson at the break.
‘We tried to give ourselves two substitutes today to use when we needed them,’ said Howe. ‘Callum was feeling a tightness in his hamstring, so that forced our hand as well with the other, so we are really stretched.’
The likes of Dan Burn, Harvey Barnes, Jacob Murphy, Sven Botman, Elliot Anderson, Alexander Isak and Matt Target are all out injured, while Sandro Tonali is bannd for betting offences.
This saw youngster Lucas De Bolle, Ben Parkinson and Lewis Miley all sitting on the bench in Germany with the squad at full stretch.
‘From our side, we were not far away tonight. And I think that is the thing to take away,’ said Howe. ‘Us at our very best, even with the amount of players we have out should have been good enough. So we have to take responsibility for that.
‘The players gave so much so it is not a question of sitting here and looking at what they have given. They have given what they could give. But maybe the game came too quick for us and the turnaround was a game too many after what they have given in the last few weeks.’
Goals from Niclas Fullkrug and Julian Brandt were the difference and leave Newcastle’s Champions League future in doubt, bottom of Group F with four points from four games, although just three points off Dortmund who are now top.
The Magpies have serious injury problems.