Newcastle United's minimal transfer activity in recent windows is beginning to catch up with them as the business end of the campaign comes into view. This was summed up, both before and after, Wednesday's narrow win over Brentford, as Eddie Howe was forced into some unwanted changes.
[Alexander Isak, Joelinton and Kieran Trippier all picked up minor issues in the St James' Park showdown](https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/newcastle-united-release-injury-statement-31339645), with Howe withdrawing the striker and the full-back in the second-half to try and avoid any serious ailments developing. Newcastle will run tests on the trio in the coming days in the hope they prove fit enough for Leicester City away on Monday - but even losing one of the aforementioned stars would be huge blow to an already threadbare squad.
Trippier is already filling in for Tino Livramento, who in turn is playing at left-back as a replacement for Lewis Hall. Isak's absence would put unwanted strain on Callum Wilson, who himself is only just back from an injury setback of his own.
With United firmly in the race for a Champions League finish, Howe and his backroom staff need a lot of luck to ensure the club's key men manage to avoid picking up serious injuries in the final nine games of the campaign. However, on the flip side of the issue, Newcastle are now finally beginning to fully utilise their ever-improving academy [as teenage talent get a much-needed glimpse of how a senior matchday unfolds on Tyneside.](https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/newcastle-united-reveal-exciting-gems-31342886)
Impressive striker Sean Neave, 17, has been called up to Howe's recent matchday squads after impressing at under-21 level this term and again found himself among the Newcastle substitutes on Wednesday evening. The academy graduate also got to enjoy the special scenes at Wembley Stadium last month.
The midweek win over Brentford also saw Leo Shahar given his maiden first-team call-up, replacing Matt Targett on Howe's bench. The right-back, 18, is another to have flourished behind the scenes this term - with a big future said to be ahead of him.
Shahar arrived at Newcastle in the summer of 2023, after leaving boyhood club Wolverhampton Wanderers, and signed his first professional deal on Tyneside last year. The England youth international was signed as part of an exciting youth recruitment drive by Newcastle in recent seasons, arriving alongside the likes of Trevan Sanusi, Rory Finneran, Alfie Harrison, Charlie McArthur, Alex Murphy, Sam Alabi and Michael Mills.
Both he and Neave have been training regularly with Newcastle's senior stars for a while, with Howe keen to oversee their development at the club's Benton base. Had the north east outfit been able to strengthen in recent windows, it is likely the aforementioned duo would not have been in a position to earn this valuable experience of late.