The Magpies have a lot of work to get through on the training ground this week and assessments must be made in the treatment room
Newcastle United's Anthony Gordon leaves the field with an injury
Newcastle United's Anthony Gordon leaves the field with an injury(Image: Iain Buist/Newcastle Chronicle)
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Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe will be hoping for positive news from the treatment room on Anthony Gordon ahead of Saturday night's powder-keg clash with Man City.
The Liverpudlian limped off against Athletic Bilbao in the Champions League and then missed the 3-1 loss at Brentford last weekend with an ongoing hip complaint.
It meant that Gordon was also withdrawn from the England squad for victories over Serbia and Albania as Thomas Tuchel's Three Lions wrapped up their 100% World Cup qualifying programme without him. Eberechi Eze, Jarred Bowen and Marcus Rashford all had spells on the left flank in his absence.
Howe had described Gordon's hip injury as "minor" last weekend when quizzed on his absence at the Gtech Community Stadium. Howe had said last week: "Anthony has a minor injury, so he'll miss England.
"It seems like a recurrence of his hip injury that has been plaguing him in recent weeks. We'll assess that and see what damage is there."
For now, Gordon will be assessed further for the weekend's clash with City with some intense training sessions planned. Newcastle aren't short of replacements, with Harvey Barnes one of the brighter sparks against Brentford as he grabbed a fine goal, while Joelinton, Jacob Ramsey and Anthony Elanga can all play off the left side of attack.
Howe will also monitor Nick Pope with the United medical staff hoping he will have recovered by the weekend from the concussion suffered at Brentford, which forced him off in West London.
Pope was also withdrawn from the England squad but Howe referenced the 12-day concussion protocols meaning Aaron Ramsdale will serve as No 1 in training to begin the week.
And while Pope should be clear of the protocols by Saturday, Ramsdale also stands by. Howe does not face the media again until Friday morning with a full week of training ahead to make big selection decisions.
However, he will definitely be without Dan Burn who was sent off against Brentford and will sit in the stands for the visit of Pep Guardiola's side because of suspension. Lewis Hall looks like an easy decision to make at left-back as Howe is forced to change his defensive rearguard.
Hall played more than an hour for England U21s on Friday night, while Tino Livramento - who has operated at left-back for club and country - could be fit after a hamstring injury.
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