Steve Bruce confirms four Newcastle players will miss upcoming clash v Leeds
Newcastle manager Steve Bruce has explained that he will be without four first-team players for Wednesday’s clash against Leeds United.
The Magpies have been struggling to get players fit for this week’s game after a COVID outbreak occurred at their training ground two weeks ago.
Many players returned for Newcastle’s game against West Brom at the weekend but ahead of the clash at Elland Road, Bruce admitted that some key men are still missing.
Speaking in his press conference before the Leeds game, Bruce said that Fabian Schar, Javier Manquillo, Allan Saint-Maximin and club captain Jamaal Lascelles would be absent.
This is a blow for the Magpies as they will have been hoping to welcome back more defenders after deploying a much-changed backline against West Brom.
Federico Fernandez is available after missing the game against the Baggies and in all likelihood, he will simply replace Isaac Hayden at centre back.
Leeds have a fantastic chance to get back to winning ways after losing 2-1 to West Ham on Friday as Newcastle’s makeshift defence struggled with the poor attacking threat posed by West Brom.
Left-back Jamal Lewis was caught out for the Baggies’ goal as his inexperience was shown and Emil Krafth at right-back had a torrid afternoon up against Callum Robinson and Kamil Grosicki.
Leeds’ attacking quality means that Marcelo Bielsa’s side has a great chance to have a field day against the Magpies and restore some much-needed confidence to the squad.
Newcastle do have dangerous players themselves however and the Leeds defence will need to keep a close eye on in-form striker Callum Wilson and potentially Dwight Gayle if he is handed a start following his winning goal against the Baggies.
There is no doubting that Bruce’s team news comes as a boost to Leeds as they look to put their worrying run of form behind them.
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