'Set to miss...' - Howe now without 'outstanding' ace vs Saints as new injury emerges at NUFC

Newcastle United have suffered an injury blow ahead of their trip to Southampton, with Federico Fernandez facing another spell on the sidelines thanks to a new issue. 

Newcastle travel to St Mary’s on Thursday night looking to put further distance between themselves and the relegation zone.

An eight-game unbeaten run has seen them open up a seven-point cushion on 17th-place Burnley.

Fernandez was missing from the middle of December until the middle of February with a thigh problem, and his return to the matchday squad has lasted only two games (via Transfermarkt).

Elsewhere, The Magpies are without Isaac Hayden, Kieran Trippier, Callum Wilson and Jamal Lewis, all of whom are nursing longer-term injuries.

Newcastle World journalist Jordan Cronin relayed the news from Eddie Howe’s pre-match press conference on Twitter.

Fernandez is apparently ‘set to miss’ Newcastle’s run of three away games in the next week – Southampton, Chelsea and Everton.

The new injury is only ‘slight’ but it’s expected to keep him out ‘for a week to 10 days’.

Fernandez has made seven Premier League appearances for Newcastle this season, but his last one came against Burnley in early December.

The £47,300-per-week ace actually impressed in the reverse fixture – a 2-2 draw at St James’ Park – with six clearances, a game-high four blocks and 71% duel success (via SofaScore).

Howe has dubbed him an ‘outstanding player’, but Newcastle fan page Mouth of the Tyne say he now ‘appears to be finished’ as he struggles for fitness and that he may be ‘one of the first out the door’.

Cronin agreed with that assessment, pointing out that two new central defenders could arrive and render the Argentine surplus to requirements.

In other news, Ralph Hasenhuttl has