Newcastle United will be without Dan Burn for a period after the defender sustained serious chest damage during the weekend derby loss to Sunderland.
Newcastle United will be without Dan Burn for a period after the defender sustained serious chest damage during the weekend derby loss to Sunderland.
The 33-year-old was hurt in the opening half at the Stadium of Light when he contested a loose ball with full-back Nordi Mukiele, with the collision forcing both players into a sliding challenge.
Mukiele received a caution after his knee struck Burn’s torso, and although the Newcastle center-back initially attempted to continue, he was withdrawn shortly afterwards and replaced by Fabian Schar.
Eddie Howe later confirmed that Burn required hospital treatment after experiencing breathing difficulties during the interval.
The injury was diagnosed as a fractured rib combined with a punctured lung, a condition where air escapes into the area between the lung and the chest wall, causing partial collapse.
Howe is expected to outline the recovery timeline during his press briefing on Tuesday, but the defender is likely to be absent throughout the congested festive run and into the early part of the new year.
The manager admitted concern over the growing list of unavailable players, stressing that the squad is currently under pressure at the back and dealing with several simultaneous problems.
Newcastle’s defensive resources are already thin, with Sven Botman missing due to a back complaint and Kieran Trippier sidelined by a hamstring issue.
Emil Krafth is also unavailable as he continues rehabilitation from a knee problem, further reducing experienced choices across the defensive unit.
Schar is expected to line up alongside Malick Thiaw in Wednesday’s Carabao Cup quarter-final against Tottenham Hotspur, leaving Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento among the few fit senior options following their recent returns from injury.
