Newcastle manager Eddie Howe is still chasing a European place despite the list of injuries.
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The Magpies boosted their chances of making the top six with a surprise 4-3 win over West Ham on Saturday, when they were 3-1 down with 13 minutes remaining. However, captain Jamaal Lascelles ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.
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“There was always that feeling that the season was alive but, of course, you have to win games and the more you don’t win, the more the season slips away very quickly”, said Howe.
“We know the quality of the league and we know how difficult it is to win consistently, but that’s what we’re chasing now”, added the manager. Lascelles joined a growing list of injuries. Central defender Sven Botman suffered a similar injury two weeks ago.
Goalkeeper Nick Pope and striker Jacob Murphy have dislocated shoulders. Defender Dan Burn has broken a bone in his back, Joelinton has injured a hamstring, Joe Willock has hamstring and Achilles injuries and striker Callum Wilson is recovering from pectoral muscle surgery.
“I always say the team is made up of the character of the players, and you could see the character shining through because I think without that, we were dead and buried and we wouldn’t have come back in the manner that we did”, added Howe.
