Newcastle United have been dealt a crushing blow with news that star winger Anthony Gordon faces a significant spell on the sidelines after suffering serious ankle ligament damage.
The £45 million signing, who has been in sensational form this season, sustained the injury during England's international friendly against Bosnia and Herzegovina at St James' Park on Monday evening.
Howe's Selection Headache Deepens
Magpies manager Eddie Howe now faces a major selection crisis as his squad prepares for Saturday's final Premier League fixture against Brentford. Gordon's absence leaves a substantial void in Newcastle's attacking options, with the 23-year-old having contributed significantly to their campaign.
"It's a big blow for us," Howe confirmed during his pre-match press conference. "We're waiting for definitive news on the extent of the injury, but it doesn't look good. He's damaged his ligaments around his ankle."
International Duty Disaster
The timing couldn't be worse for both club and player. Gordon had been hoping to secure his place in Gareth Southgate's final England squad for the European Championship in Germany this summer.
His impressive second-half performance against Bosnia, where he earned his third senior cap, was cut short by the unfortunate injury that now threatens his participation in the tournament.
Newcastle's European Hopes Hang in Balance
Gordon's absence comes at a critical juncture in Newcastle's season. The Magpies are fighting to secure European football for the second consecutive year, sitting level on points with Chelsea in sixth position.
His contribution this season has been monumental, with the former Everton man scoring 11 goals and providing 10 assists across all competitions.
Howe now faces the difficult task of reshuffling his attacking lineup for the Brentford encounter, with potential replacements including Miguel Almirón, Jacob Murphy, or Harvey Barnes.
Medical staff at St James' Park are conducting further assessments to determine the exact recovery timeline, but early indications suggest Gordon could be facing several weeks of rehabilitation.
