'Number of weeks' - Newcastle United confirm fresh injury blow & new concern after Bournemouth defeat
Newcastle United's heavy defeat to AFC Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium has been compounded by two fresh injury blows.
With the scoreline level at 0-0, Miguel Almiron limped off on the half-hour mark. Matt Ritchie replaced the Paraguayan as the Magpies went on to lose following a second-half brace by Dominic Solanke.
"He's got a hamstring problem," United boss Eddie Howe confirmed. "I hope it's not serious. Of course we all hope that but we don't know at this moment in time quite how bad it is."
Almiron is the second player Newcastle have lost to injury this week. During Tuesday's defeat to Borussia Dortmund, top scorer Callum Wilson was forced off at half-time because of hamstring tightness.
The 31-year-old was called up by England for upcoming friendlies against Malta and North Macedonia but has had to withdraw after missing the trip to his former club.
Howe said: "Yeah he won't travel with England. He'll be out a number of weeks."
Newcastle's injury and suspension list now stretches 11 with the two-week international break coming at an ideal time.
As well as Wilson and Almiron, United are also without Alexander Isak, Harvey Barnes, Jacob Murphy, Dan Burn, Elliot Anderson, Sven Botman, Javier Manquillo and Matt Targett. Sandro Tonali, of course, is serving a 10-month ban from football.
Howe was also without Bruno Guimaraes against the Cherries but he'll be available for the visit of Chelsea on November 25 after serving his one-match suspension for accumulating five yellow cards.
"It was a game where we couldn't be where we needed to be for it," said Howe. "It was a tough watch. I see the players close at hand every day and we were unrecognisable to how we can be and how we have been for a long period of time.
"The players have been so consistent. Today was an off day. I think there are reasons for it. I don't want to make excuses but I do want to support the players."
Howe added: "I don't know whether it affected the players mentally today, or it was just purely on the pitch that it showed. Certainly, we didn't look like ourselves.
"Consistently we've been so good. Whether we've won or lost, you've always seen a Newcastle performance and today we didn't see that. In and out of possession, I thought we were unrecognisable.
"They're such honest players and they've given me so much, that's why I'm absolutely clear that I have to support them, back them and know we'll come back stronger from this.
