A severe foot injury for Harvey Barnes could see the Newcastle United winger spend months on the sidelines. The 25-year-old limped off in the 12th minute of Newcastle’s 8-0 win at Sheffield United on Sunday, and his manager, Eddie Howe, revealed that the injury was substantial.
The Newcastle boss said the injury was to a part of his foot, just below the toe. He added that it is an ‘unusual injury, ‘ meaning he will probably need surgery. “I think it’s an injury to a part of the foot, just below the toe, and I think it’s quite a substantial injury,” he told reporters ahead of Newcastle’s League Cup game against Manchester City on Wednesday.
It’s a disappointing blow for Barnes, who had a great start to life at the Magpies since signing from relegated Leicester City for PS38 million in July. He scored and assisted on his debut in the 5-1 win against Aston Villa on August 25 and has played seven times for the club, scoring once.
Barnes could have gotten in on the goals against Sheffield, which was a big part of why he was brought in for such a high fee. But he will now have to sit out several months with the injury, and that’s not good news for the Magpies, who are struggling to find enough minutes for left-sided players Joelinton and Anthony Gordon.
Asked about a possible return date for Barnes, Howe said: “It is too early to tell. He will have a scan this week, and then we will know the true extent of the injury. “We can’t speculate about anything until we know what the outcome of the scan is.”
Howe was adamant that Barnes is an excellent addition to the squad, and he believes he has been an essential player in the team’s early stages. He pointed out that he has started two games and is in the same position as other first-team players in terms of time spent on the pitch.
Howe knows he will need all his players fit for the remainder of this busy fixture schedule, including Manchester City on Wednesday. The Newcastle boss took his side to the Carabao Cup final last season and is keen to go one better this term. Nevertheless, he is mindful that they must balance that with a top-four push in the Premier League.
