The Newcastle United player was hurt against Arsenal but played the entire game against Borussia Dortmund.
In the Champions League, Newcastle United were defeated 2-0 by Borussia Dortmund.
Eddie Howe believes Newcastle United’s Champions League match against Borussia Dortmund came a day too soon for his thin squad.
The Magpies’ chances of reaching the competition’s final 16 are in jeopardy as goals from Niklas Fullkurg and Julian Brandt inflicted a 2-0 defeat at Signal Iduna Park.
United were missing 12 senior players due to injuries, suspensions, and ineligibility, and they traveled to Dortmund just three days after defeating Premier League title rivals Arsenal 1-0 at St James’ Park.
“From our side, we weren’t far away tonight, and I think that’s the thing to take,” Howe said after the game to reporters. “Even with the number of players we have out, we are good enough at our best.” We must accept common responsibility for this.
“The players gave so much; I don’t doubt what they gave, but perhaps the game came too quickly for us.” “Perhaps the turnaround was a day too soon.”
Because of the short turnaround, Howe made three changes to his starting lineup. Lewis Hall took over at left back for the injured Dan Burn, while Tino Livramento and Joe Willock replaced Miguel Almiron and Anthony Gordon.
The latter’s exclusion was the most shocking, but Howe explained that the decision was made to protect the forward’s fitness. Gordon and Almiron were introduced at halftime in place of Hall and Callum Wilson, who was suffering from hamstring discomfort.
“I think we’ve lost the ability to make certain decisions,” Howe added. In some ways, I’m being pushed to make judgments and select teams.
“Looking at Anthony Gordon, he played for 90 minutes against Arsenal and gave his all physically, and I think the turnaround was just too quick for him.” I didn’t think he could start the game, so we had to utilize him as a sub.
“In a different set of circumstances, you’d probably have liked to have played a different type of winger, but I’m not going to sit here and make excuses, that’s what we have.”
Despite suffering a dead leg during Saturday’s match against Arsenal, Howe had little choice but to keep Kieran Trippier in the starting lineup.
“I think he’s OK,” Howe remarked. “He had a bit of a dead leg from the Arsenal game and they can be sore for a few days, but not a muscle problem.”
