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The term ‘injury crisis’ can be overused in the language of the sports pages.
Yet when you could practically cobble together a team capable of winning Premier League games out of Newcastle’s absentees at Bournemouth, it is safe to say they have earned its use.
The loss of Miguel Almiron to a hamstring complaint in Saturday’s deflating defeat only exacerbated the problem plaguing Eddie Howe’s team. That took their list of crocked players into double figures, while Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali were suspended for the trip.
While those teenagers performed admirably, relegation-threatened Bournemouth showed no mercy and thoroughly deserved the win. If anything, we should have seen more than Dominic Solanke’s two goals.
Newcastle and Eddie Howe will be glad of the upcoming break after suffering a host of injuries
With over 10 players ruled out, the below-par Magpies fell to a 2-0 defeat by Bournemouth
Yet at full time, there was at least one Newcastle fan who disagreed with the accepting diagnosis that theirs was a team down to the bare bones. He felt the visitors should have performed better for his 700-mile round trip, which prompted a confrontation with Kieran Trippier.
Newcastle’s full back, having approached the away end, could be heard shouting: ‘Are the lads not giving everything? How many injuries have we got?’ Joelinton was among those who proceeded to pull him away but it was too late. Captured on camera, it was destined to go viral.
Sometimes, injuries can be used as a flimsy excuse but in Newcastle’s case you can understand why they were nowhere near the standard set under Howe as he marked his two-year anniversary in charge with a defeat by his old employers.
Given they are the Premier League’s richest club under their Saudi supremos, you will struggle to find sympathisers outside of the Geordie milieu. Manchester United and Tottenham fans may argue they are in the midst of an injury crisis, too.
Yet Newcastle are in bother, losing Premier League games they might have won with their full ensemble and bottom of their Champions League group after last week’s defeat by Borussia Dortmund.
The only bonus for Howe is this international break is timed perfectly to give them respite from the hustle and bustle of football’s relentless calendar.
