Fans reacts as Eddie Howe finally reveals massive blow for Newcastle United with two key stars ruled out 

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. 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.”

Newcastle have managed to remain in touch with the leading pack in the Premier League, all while juggling their European campaign. Their resounding win over Chelsea means they are three points off the top four ahead of a crunch Champions League clash with at PSG in midweek.

After that they host Manchester United, whom they’ve already beaten this season in the Carabao Cup. Expectations have heightened in the north east, but Howe is having to manage his resources with teenager Lewis Miley starting in the win over Chelsea – just his fifth professional game.

Wilson had to withdraw from the recent England squad and admits they have been hit hard by a “crazy” spell of injuries that has so many key men out at once. “It’s gone crazy,” he told the Footballer’s Football Podcast. “Obviously within a season you expect to have a few casualties, but not all at one time. They are players that regularly play games as well, so it’s been a frustrating time and a difficult time for us as a club. But, it’s something new and it’s a challenge.

“It’s now about other players stepping up and it shows the depth of our squad and that togetherness. You can’t rely on anybody else because there isn’t anybody else to bring in, so you just have to dig in and get through a period that is difficult. Then, when you see the other side and everyone is back again, we’ll all be moaning that there is too much competition.”