Eddie Howe fears Joe Willock is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines after he limped off against Nottingham Forest on Wednesday night.
Willock put Newcastle United in front at the City Ground after just 18 seconds but had to be replaced in the 15th minute because of a thigh injury.
The 25-year-old looked devastated as he left the pitch. The midfielder was making his first start since April after an Achilles injury restricted him to just 14 appearances last season. Howe admits Willock’s latest injury “doesn’t look good”.
Newcastle United midfielder Joe Willock. (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)Newcastle United midfielder Joe Willock. (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Newcastle United midfielder Joe Willock. (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images
“A huge blow for him and for us,” said Howe. “He scored the goal and we looked in that moment. His absence meant we had to reshuffle our midfield which is something we didn’t want to do in that moment at all.
“We just hope it’s not serious. It doesn’t look good, he’s feeling a pain in his thigh so we’ll have to wait and see how serious it is.”
Bruno Guimaraes came on in Willock’s place, and Forest went on to equalise shortly after half-time through Jota Silva’s powerful strike.
Penalties were required to decide the tie, and Howe’s men emerged victorious after misses from Ibrahim Sangare and Taiwo Awoniyi.
“It was a tough game,” said Howe. “Great start but then I don’t think we saw the best of us until the final half-hour, where I thought we were excellent. We’ve still got work to do to get to our best levels.
“There was a new energy [after the subs], a different feel to us in the latter stages of the game, that’s everything we want to be. You can see players are still getting back to their best levels.
