Newcastle United's already concerning injury situation has taken another significant turn for the worse, with winger Anthony Gordon forced off during the first half of their Carabao Cup semi-final clash against Manchester City due to a hamstring issue.
Gordon's Untimely Setback
The 24-year-old forward pulled up sharply while chasing a long ball from Aaron Ramsdale with 43 minutes on the clock during Wednesday's encounter at the Etihad Stadium. Playing on the left wing, Gordon checked his run abruptly before collapsing to the turf, immediately signalling to Manchester City's Phil Foden that he had sustained a hamstring injury.
Newcastle's medical team rushed onto the pitch to provide treatment, with physios seen massaging Gordon's left hamstring area. Despite their efforts, the England international could only manage to hobble to the touchline before being replaced by Harvey Barnes shortly before half-time.
Mounting Concerns for Newcastle's Campaign
While Gordon's substitution had little impact on the semi-final outcome - with Manchester City already leading 5-0 on aggregate thanks to goals from Omar Marmoush and Tijjani Reijnders - the injury represents a substantial blow to Newcastle's ambitions across multiple competitions.
Manager Eddie Howe now faces an increasingly challenging selection dilemma as his squad depth is tested to its limits. The Magpies are already without several key first-team players, including captain Bruno Guimaraes, midfielder Joelinton, and defenders Lewis Miley, Emil Krafth, Tino Livramento, and Fabian Schar.
Critical Period Ahead
February presents a particularly demanding schedule for Newcastle, beginning with an FA Cup fourth-round clash against Aston Villa on the 14th, followed by a crucial two-legged Champions League play-off against Qarabag on the 18th and 24th.
Howe's side are currently enduring a three-match winless run in the Premier League, making the timing of Gordon's injury particularly unfortunate. The manager can ill afford further absences as results begin to suffer during this congested period.
Recovery Timeline Uncertain
The exact severity of Gordon's hamstring problem remains unclear, with medical assessments ongoing. However, typical recovery periods for such injuries range between four and twelve weeks, potentially ruling the winger out for a significant portion of Newcastle's crucial upcoming fixtures.
This latest setback compounds what has become a genuine injury crisis at St James' Park, testing the resilience of Howe's squad during one of the most demanding phases of their season across domestic and European competitions.
