NEWCASTLE, England (Reuters) – Newcastle United suffered their first defeat since returning to the Champions League, which could have serious consequences for the team. The rainy match against Borussia Dortmund at St James’ Park ended in a 1-0 loss, leaving the team with a challenging path to progress from Group F. Despite this setback, Newcastle currently holds four points from three games, the same as Dortmund.
The defeat was compounded by injuries sustained by forwards Alexander Isak and Jacob Murphy. Isak, representing Sweden, was forced off the field after just 15 minutes and was replaced by Callum Wilson. Shortly after, Murphy, who was on as a substitute, fell awkwardly on his shoulder and had to be withdrawn. These injuries have added to manager Eddie Howe’s frustrations, as he expressed concern about the strain it puts on his already small squad.
Reflecting on the match, Howe lamented the injuries and stated, “Isak going off was a blow, and Jacob came off with what looks like a serious injury. We’ve got a small squad as it is. That’s probably the most disappointing thing of the night.” It appears that Isak’s injury may be a recurrence of his groin problem, which is a significant setback. Meanwhile, Murphy’s injury could potentially involve a dislocation of his shoulder. Additionally, it was announced that midfielder Elliot Anderson was unavailable for the game due to a back problem, and he is expected to be out for a few weeks.
With an upcoming Premier League match against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday, Newcastle is now faced with the challenge of managing their squad amid these injuries. Howe and his team will need to strategize and adapt quickly, given the demanding schedule.
The defeat and the mounting injuries have raised questions about Newcastle’s ability to compete at their highest level. Nonetheless, the team remains in contention in Group F, and they will need to regroup and refocus in order to continue their campaign in the Champions League.
(Reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
