Barnes will be out of action for “months rather than weeks” owing to an injury.
NEWCASTLE winger Harvey Barnes might be out for months while a specialist evaluates a foot injury suffered at Sheffield United.
The 25-year-old limped out of Sunday’s 8-0 Premier League hammering at Bramall Lane after only 12 minutes, and head coach Eddie Howe is concerned that surgery will keep him out for the rest of the season.
When asked if Barnes would be out for an extended period of time, Howe replied, “Yes, we’re afraid he will be.” It’s difficult. I don’t want to put a time limit on it until we hear from the specialist, but I suspect it will be months, not weeks.”
The England international, who joined the Magpies from Leicester in the summer, was hurt while running in South Yorkshire and has since had a scan.
“It’s an injury to a part of the foot just below the toe,” Howe said. That, I suppose, is a major injury. We had it scanned and are now awaiting advise from a professional on what to do next, including whether surgery is required.
“I don’t believe it was a tackle; I believe it was just pushing off to run, which is a very unusual injury.” I’m not going to get too technical since I’m not a doctor, but that is extremely unusual.”
Any extended absence would be a setback for both a player eager to establish himself on Tyneside – Sunday’s game was only his second start for his new club – and his employers, who spent heavily on his services during their most recent spending spree in preparation for a season that includes Champions League football for the first time in two decades.
“He was down after the game because he knew it wasn’t a normal injury where you feel a muscle and think it might be one or two weeks,” explained Howe.
“This was a slightly more complex issue, and I believe he feared the worst because he was alone and it was one of those mechanisms where he knew something wasn’t quite right.”
“There’s no doubt he’ll be disappointed because he was eager to demonstrate his worth and value, and Sunday was an opportunity to do so.” But, regardless of the injury, we’ll be there for him because we know he’s a top-tier player with a vital role to play.”
Barnes’ injury occurred as Newcastle’s focus shifted from a fantastic afternoon against the Blades to the chance of defeating Treble-winners Manchester City in the League Cup, the only prize Pep Guardiola’s men did not win last season.
The third round draw could not have presented a more difficult task to the Magpies, who lost to Manchester United in last season’s final, despite Guardiola acknowledging that he will make sweeping changes owing to injury.
Guardiola has confessed that he is concerned about Kalvin Phillips, who is set to make a rare City start tonight.
Despite the availability of Jack Grealish and Mateo Kovacic, City will be without John Stones, Bernardo Silva, and Kevin De Bruyne, and Rodri is suspended for three games following his red card against Nottingham Forest.
The trip to St James’ Park on Wednesday is the first of four away games in less than two weeks for City, who also go to Wolves, Leipzig, and Arsenal.
“We used it, when we won a few times in this competition, at the beginning of the season, there are four, five, six players who maybe don’t play regularly and it’s perfect because it’s better than training sessions to play a game,” Guardiola stated.
“But everyone was in good shape, and we formed a strong side.” However, this is an outlier.
“We have a lot of injured players and a lot of players who have played a lot of minutes – with the national team, with the team – and they need to rest because tomorrow is important, but Wolves, Leipzig, and Arsenal are much more important.”
“The guys who didn’t play much are going to play and see what happens with the rest to try to make a good starting XI and travel there to win the game.”
Howe, who is missing injured Joe Willock and Joelinton in addition to Barnes, is unconvinced by the Spaniard.
“Pep is a manager who has won so much, and he hasn’t done it without giving everything to every moment in order to achieve that success,” he said. I am convinced that tomorrow will witness the best Manchester City.”
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