DrkeemEDDIE Howe faces a nervous injury wait on a couple of key players ahead of Saturday’s Premier League trip to Everton.
Newcastle booked their place in the Carabao Cup fourth round with a 1-0 win over AFC Wimbledon on Tuesday night, but the victory could have come at a price.
Fabian Schar went off in the final seconds and while the change was more of a precaution, the defender will be monitored in the coming days.
Howe also revealed that Nick Pope missed the game with a knee problem, though the head coach is hopeful the keeper will be fit for the trip to Goodison Park.
With Pope absent, Martin Dubravka made his first start of the season but was forced off at half-time after a coming together with Wimbledon striker Omar Bugiel
Howe said: “Martin has taken a nasty bang to his knee. We hope he’s all right, but we’ll wait and see how that settles down tomorrow.
“I’ve no idea at the moment in time. I don’t know whether it’s a knock or anything more serious.
“We had a few players fatigued at the end because they haven’t had a lot of football, but hopefully no major injuries from the game.”
On Schar, Howe said: “I think it was a couple of things. Hopefully he’s OK. It was a bang to his ankle and a bit of tightness in his body.”
Schar will be closely assessed in the next 24-48 hours, as will Pope.
Howe said: “We don’t think it’s serious, it’s just a bit of swelling on his knee.
“We’re hopeful he will be fit for Everton on Saturday.”
Harvey Barnes was replaced at half-time on Tuesday night but Howe said that was something that had been discussed in advance.
“That was planned before the game,” he said.
“Without the injury to Martin I might have done a couple more at half-time. The plan was to rotate minutes and keep everybody fresh for Saturday. A couple of players played longer than I wanted them to.”
Drkeem
