Newcastle head to Selhurst Park next weekend but the Eagles could be without one of their star men
England players James Trafford, Adam Wharton, Elliot Anderson, Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento
James Trafford, Adam Wharton, Elliot Anderson, Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento at Wembley(Image: PA)
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Newcastle United could face a Crystal Palace side shorn of key midfielder Adam Wharton when they return to Premier League action next weekend.
Eddie Howe's side will kick-off their seven-match European qualification push at Selhurst Park on Sunday, April 12 following a three-week break due to the international fixtures and the FA Cup quarter-finals.
The Magpies are hoping to have Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali and Fabian Schar available for the trip to South London, but Palace boss Oliver Glasner will be sweating on the fitness of Wharton after he withdrew from the England camp early.
The 22-year-old is an important part of the Eagles' midfield, but was forced to leave Thomas Tuchel's squad before the 1-0 defeat to Japan on Tuesday night.
He is now a doubt for Newcastle's visit, although the injury is not thought to be a serious one.
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"It's disappointing but I'm not upset with the players. I'm not angry," Tuchel said following the withdrawals, which saw Arsenal trio Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka and Noni Madueke head home early.
"I got the feeling that everyone was desperate to come. Some of the injured players even stayed to do their treatment. That shows they want to be around the group.
"No one left straight away. It's a good spirit and that's how it should be."
Wharton has made 41 appearances for Palace this season, had has been tipped for a big-money transfer move in the summer, with Chelsea and Manchester United said to be monitoring his progress.
Newcastle are looking to bounce back from the damaging 2-1 defeat to Sunderland before the international break, with Howe keen to rekindle the form that saw the Magpies beat Manchester United 2-1 and Chelsea 1-0.
However, the heavy Champions League defeat to Barcelona followed by the derby blow has meant morale took a sizeable hit heading into the break.
United are four points behind Brentford in seventh, but head into the remaining seven games knowing they cannot afford to drop many more points before the season ends.
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