While Anthony Elanga managed to find the back of the net for the first time in a Newcastle shirt last night, his goal was a small consolation on an otherwise miserable evening for the club. The trip to the Etihad was always going to be a difficult task, but the 5-1 aggregate defeat and subsequent exit from the Carabao Cup have left a bitter taste for the traveling supporters.
To make a bad night even worse, Newcastle United appears to have picked up yet another significant injury concern. Anthony Gordon was forced to leave the pitch just before the halftime whistle, clutching his hamstring and looking visibly frustrated as Harvey Barnes was sent on to replace him.
For manager Eddie Howe, the timing of this setback is nothing short of a nightmare. The club is currently staring down an incredibly congested fixture list, with seven more matches packed into the final three weeks of February. Losing a player of Gordon’s intensity and pace is a massive blow to a squad that is already stretched to its breaking point.
When you consider that the team arrived in Manchester without the likes of Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton, Lewis Miley, Fabian Schar, Tino Livramento, and Emil Krafth, the addition of Gordon to the injury list feels like a cruel twist of fate.
In the immediate aftermath of the match, Howe’s assessment of the situation was a bit of a mixed bag. During his official post-match press conference, the manager didn’t hide his concern, describing the injury as a “big worry” for the coaching staff.
However, in a separate television interview with Sky Sports, he offered a slightly more optimistic tone. He hinted that while the player felt enough discomfort to come off, it “doesn’t look too bad,” suggesting that they may have caught the issue early enough to avoid a long-term layoff.
Howe admitted to the gathered press that they are essentially in a waiting game, noting that while it clearly looks like a hamstring problem, the exact grade of the tear or strain won’t be known until the medical team completes a full scan.
| Potential Absence Timeline | Matches Affected |
| Short Term (1-2 weeks) | Brentford (H), Tottenham (A) |
| Medium Term (3-4 weeks) | Aston Villa (H), Brighton (A), Fulham (H) |
| Long Term (5+ weeks) | Multiple League & Potential Cup Ties |
Even if the news is as positive as Howe hopes, it is very unlikely that we will see Anthony Gordon on the pitch in the next few days. Hamstring injuries are notoriously tricky, and rushing a player back too soon often leads to a more severe tear that could sideline them for months.
It seems almost certain that Gordon will miss the upcoming home game against Brentford a match that many fans consider a “must-win” to get the season back on track. Furthermore, the quick turnaround for next Tuesday’s trip to North London to face Tottenham Hotspur likely means the winger will be watching from the sidelines for that clash as well.
The silver lining, if there is one, is that this opening allows other players to step up and prove their worth. Harvey Barnes is the natural candidate to reclaim his spot on the left wing, a position where he has historically been most effective.
Meanwhile, the right side of the attack has suddenly become a very interesting battleground. Anthony Elanga’s confidence will be high after finally getting off the mark, but he now faces competition from a fit-again Jacob Murphy. Murphy’s work rate and delivery could be vital for a team that is desperate to find some consistency in the final third.
Eddie Howe’s primary challenge now is one of management and survival. He has to find a way to navigate this brutal February schedule with a squad that is missing its backbone. The medical department at Newcastle is arguably the most important part of the club right now, as getting these key players back on the grass will be the only way to save a season that is threatening to slip away.
Fans will be checking their phones constantly for the official scan results on Gordon, hoping that their star winger is only facing a brief spell on the treatment table rather than a lengthy stay.
