Newcastle United suffer ‘massive’ injury blow ahead of Manchester United clash

Eddie Howe has confirmed that Joe Willock has suffered a recurrence of his Achilles injury a week before Newcastle take on Manchester United.

The 24-year-old is being booked in to see a specialist after sustaining the setback in training ahead of Saturday’s 4-1 win over Chelsea. Willock netted against United in this month’s 3-0 League Cup win having missed the first two months of the season through a hamstring problem that triggered an Achilles issue.

It looks like he will not be lining up against United next Saturday given his latest setback. Speaking on the injury, Howe said: “It looks like a recurrence of an Achilles injury that he had a few weeks ago. It’s a massive blow for us.

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“We don’t know how long he’s going to be out, we’re going to have to seek specialist advice, but it’s a huge blow for us. The [injury] was very hard for everybody to take yesterday, especially as its another recurrence, and I think that's the frustrating thing. We don't know the extent of it at this moment in time, we'll do everything we can to get him back on the pitch as quickly as possible."

It takes the current tally of injuries at Newcastle to 13. Callum Wilson and Harvey Barnes are among those who were sidelined for the win over Chelsea.

Newcastle first take on Paris Saint-Germain in a crucial Champions League group stage tie on Tuesday ahead of the visit of United Erik ten Hag has injury worries of his own. Rasmus Hojlund is touch-and-go for the away trip to Everton on Sunday while Mason Mount is also a doubt.

Christian Eriksen is out for at least another fortnight with a knee injury while Casemiro and Lisandro