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Joe Willock isn’t the only Newcastle United player to have had an issue with his Achilles in recent weeks.
Murphy scored nine goals and was the top assist maker last season with 14 but found himself on the bench for the goalless draw at Villa Park on Saturday afternoon.
Elanga, a £55million summer signing from Nottingham Forest, instead lined up on the right wing before being replaced by Murphy in the 78th minute.
Eddie Howe comments on Anthony Elanga’s Newcastle United debut
There were just a few minutes on the clock when Elanga went one-on-one with Villa goalkeeper Marco Bizot and despite failing to score, Howe was pleased with the former Manchester United man’s competitive debut.
Speaking at his post-match press conference, Howe said: “I'm very positive on his performance. I thought he looked a real threat. He was direct, really showed his quality. He put some really good balls in the box, we needed to do better on some of those.
“Yes, he's had probably the one big chance early on in the game, but I thought he did most things right bar seeing the ball hit the net. I thought he was really good today.”
Newcastle United winger Jacob Murphy nursing an injury
Howe has revealed part of his decision to pick was due to Murphy nursing an Achilles issue.
Newcastle’s head coach explained: “Any decision is very difficult, especially on the first day because the expectation of the players is that everyone wants to play.
“Jacob has just been nursing tightness in his Achilles, so in some respects, when you have a 100% fit player and one that is not, that made it slightly easier.”
With Murphy able to play the final quarter of an hour at Villa Park, the issue isn’t expected to rule him out next Monday’s St James’ Park opener against Premier League champions Liverpool.
Joe Willock expected to miss Newcastle United vs Liverpool
Joe Willock, however, is expected to miss the game due to his respective Achilles injury.
The Magpies feared the worst when the 25-year-old was stretchered off during the closing stages of the 1-0 defeat to Team K-League in South Korea on July 30. Given the player’s 2023-24 season was blighted by the same issue, another lengthy spell on the sidelines was feared among supporters.
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But those fears were quickly allayed, with Howe revealing after the game that it didn’t look like a “major, major injury”. A recent scan has since confirmed that to be true.
After missing Villa, Willock is unlikely to return against Liverpool, though he could be in contention for the trip to Leeds United a week on Saturday.
Speaking after the recent 2-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid, Howe said: “We initially, as I said, feared that he would be out longer term. It did look like a nasty injury right at the end of the Tottenham game. I didn't like the way he went down and reacted to the feeling that he got. It did look like it was painful for him.
“Fingers crossed he's recovering well. He's been to see a specialist and the news is pretty good. So, a few more weeks and I think Joe will be back.”
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