Newcastle issued major injury blow ahead of Manchester City clash

Eddie Howe will be forced to contend with the absence of one of his key first-team stars when Newcastle United take on Manchester City this weekend, it has been confirmed.

City will embark on their first Premier League clash of the new calendar year, and hope to take advantage of a period when a number of top-flight rivals will be without African and Asian players due to the ongoing international tournaments in the respective continents.

With Liverpool, Aston Villa, and Arsenal all challenging Manchester City’s hopes of winning an unprecedented fourth successive Premier League title, a run of consecutive victories is imperative for Pep Guardiola and his players in the coming weeks.

That starts with a trip to face Newcastle United, with Eddie Howe’s side hoping to pick up form themselves and mount a stronger charge for the European places available in the Premier League this season.

However, while injuries have largely cause havoc for the North-East giants this season, the Magpies’ luck with regards to the treatment table does not look like changing any time soon, following the emergence of a fresh injury problem.

As per the Daily Mail’s North-East football correspondent Craig Hope, Newcastle midfielder and Brazil international Joelinton will be ruled out of the meeting with Manchester City on Saturday evening due to a thigh injury, despite the problem being ‘not too serious’.

As for Manchester City and their ongoing fitness issues, Jeremy Doku made his long-awaited return to action following a muscular problem sustained in late-November, scoring in a 5-0 win over Huddersfield Town last weekend.

Erling Haaland however remains sidelined but is training with the City squad as he continues his recovery from a foot problem, while John Stones is in the earlier stages of recovery from an ankle blow sustained against Everton in the Premier League last month.