Beyond the immediate concern, the injury highlights a broader issue facing Newcastle as they juggle domestic and cup commitments. With Burn, Sven Botman, Kieran Trippier and Emil Krafth all unavailable, Howe has been forced into creative solutions, including deploying midfielders in defensive roles. The strain on a small core of fit defenders has become increasingly apparent.
The Newcastle boss also addressed the wider injury picture, offering a more optimistic update on another defensive option. “Lewis (Hall), we’re more positive on. He couldn’t play today. He felt some tightness in his hamstring, but he has a chance for Chelsea,” Howe said. “We’ve got a number of injuries to the same position, which is never good.”