Joe Buck brings you the latest Newcastle United news as Joelinton is ruled-out for the remainder of the season with a knee injury.
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00:00So, Newcastle United have been rocked by news that Joe Linton is expected to miss the rest of the season with a knee injury that he sustained in the run-up to the Apeswish game on Saturday.
00:11Now, the Brazilian missed that game. He wasn't required. Newcastle ran out comfortable 3-0 winners. Joe Willock was his replacement at St James' Park.
00:21And Eddie Howe admitted after the game that Joe Linton missed out because of a knee injury that he felt on the eve of that game.
00:26You know, much like Sven Botman ahead of the Brighton game a few months ago now, actually.
00:32You know, that injury was sustained in the last session beforehand and that Joe Linton had been taken out as a precaution, which was fair enough at that point.
00:40And you did wonder how much of an impact that would have because Joe Linton has been a really big player for Newcastle.
00:44Of course, he had the knee injury back in February, March time.
00:48They kept him out for about a month then. He returned into time for the Carabao Cup final and he was absolutely brilliant that day.
00:53Wembley, you know, chased down every single ball, every single Liverpool player.
00:58So, he was his, you know, he has had a good sort of month and a bit back in the team.
01:03But news today from the Mail Online suggests that he will now miss the next four games of the season.
01:07Now, the report states that whilst Joe Linton hasn't given up hope of featuring this year,
01:11the medical advice surrounding his injuries is that he does sit out the remaining four games,
01:14which of course come against Brighton on Sunday, Chelsea, Arsenal and then Everton to finish off the season.
01:20And yeah, it's going to, they are four huge games, you know.
01:22They all played on Sunday, starting this weekend when they travelled down to the Amex Stadium.
01:26They then host Chelsea at midday next Sunday in a massive game.
01:30That looks like a huge game. You know, both teams going for Champions League qualification.
01:34Of course, depending on how results go this weekend, that could be one that Newcastle start five points clear of Chelsea.
01:38They could also start behind them.
01:39So that's a massive couple of games coming up, but not having Joe Linton available for them games,
01:43especially that Chelsea one, will be a really big blow because he is a big game player.
01:47He turns up in the big moments and he's the type of physical presence you want in that midfield.
01:51Nothing against Joe Willock or Lewis Miley or Sean Longstaff, whoever comes in to replace him,
01:54but you can't really replace Joe Linton's physicality and his attributes.
01:57It's just they aren't replaceable by almost anyone in world football.
02:00You know, there's not a central midfielder like him.
02:02So he will be a big miss.
02:04We will speak to Eddie Howe on Friday.
02:07He will no doubt be asked about Joe Linton and any updates on his fitness.
02:11But hopefully that if Joe Linton is missing, hopefully he is the only one that will be missing from,
02:17you know, the squad that travelled down to Brighton on Sunday.
02:21Anthony Gordon's still not match fit according to Eddie Howe, but they hope that he will be fine
02:24and that he can start, you know, building match fitters.
02:26It's really hard because you've only got four games a season.
02:28How much fitness can you build in that time?
02:30But yeah, it's a big blow to see Joe Linton out.
02:33But hopefully Newcastle United can, you know, cope without him and react to this setback.
02:38They've done it in the past with big injuries.
02:40They've got four really big games to go.
02:42Hopefully they can deal without Joe Linton for those games and end the season strong.
02:45And of course, secure a Champions League qualification.