Newcastle United could be without key players for season-defining Leicester City game

Eddie Howe has made it clear he has every faith, if selected, young Geordie Elliot Anderson will make up for lost time against both the Foxes and on the final day at Chelsea. (Reuters)
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  • 1 point needed from 2 games for Champions League place
  • Joelinton, Joe Willock, Sean Longstaff, Jacob Murphy struggling

NEWCASTLE: Eddie Howe is hoping 鈥榤achine鈥� Joelinton is fit to face Leicester City with his Champions League-chasing Magpies suffering an end-of-season injury crisis.

Newcastle United may be without Joe Willock, injured in the win over Brighton last Thursday, for the final two games of the campaign 鈥� and news is no better on Sean Longstaff and Jacob Murphy, with the key duo having yet to return to training at the club鈥檚 Benton base.

But with only one point needed to secure Champions League qualification, following Aston Villa鈥檚 point at fifth-placed Liverpool, Newcastle boss Howe is hoping he will be able to patch up talisman Joelinton for the Monday night visit of the 19th-placed Foxes.

鈥淲e鈥檒l want the same again, I鈥檝e got no doubt the crowd will be there for us. We really have to take the good feeling from Brighton and the confidence that game should give us but then forget it and focus purely on a totally different game,鈥� said Howe.

鈥淭actically, it will be totally different, but we have to be ready for a tough match.

鈥淲e鈥檝e got a few concerns. The lads gave so much to the game against Brighton, and they鈥檝e given a lot to the season. I just hope there is nothing serious.

鈥淚t looks like Joe Willock may be in trouble with his hamstring injury, we might lose him for the season but that鈥檚 unclear as I sit here now. Fingers crossed our team will still be strong.鈥�

Joelinton limped out of the St. James鈥� Park clash, but no matter what happens in games, the big Brazilian always seems to patch himself up ready to play the next.

Howe hopes his midfield 鈥榤achine鈥� will come to the rescue again.

鈥淗e鈥檇 literally 鈥� it鈥檚 a well-used phrase in football 鈥� run through a brick wall for the team, the club and I think he does every game.

鈥淗e succumbed to that brick wall against Brighton, it seemed to hurt him, but we hope he鈥檚 okay. He鈥檚 just been incredible for us this year.鈥�

On Longstaff, who has been unavailable since the midweek win at Everton at the end of April, and Murphy, who has missed the last two games, Howe has revealed it remains to be seen whether either will strengthen the Magpies鈥� hand.

鈥淎t this moment, being honest, he鈥檚 doubtful,鈥� Howe said on Longstaff. 鈥淗e hasn鈥檛 trained. He鈥檚 improving but we鈥檒l wait and see. Again, Jacob hasn鈥檛 trained so we鈥檒l wait and see.鈥�

Attention now turns to who may replace Willock in the side. And Howe has made it clear he has every faith, if selected, young Geordie Elliot Anderson will make up for lost time against both the Foxes and on the final day at Chelsea.

He said: 鈥淲hen you look back to the start of the season, I鈥檇 say he himself would consider himself a first-team player now as in a fully integrated member of the first-team鈥檚 squad.

鈥淗e鈥檚 trained consistently throughout the season. It鈥檚 very difficult for those lads that haven鈥檛 played regularly when the team wins consistently and has performed as well as it has to wait for their chance.

鈥淣ow, he鈥檚 a young player that has been desperate to play, he鈥檚 controlled his emotions really well, I do believe he鈥檚 added elements to his game and improved certain parts of his game that needed to improve. I鈥檇 say he鈥檚 ready.

鈥淗e鈥檚 versatile 鈥� he proved that against Brighton, he came on the right side of midfield. He鈥檚 predominantly been used by me as a left-side player and he鈥檚 very much capable, so we believe in him.鈥�