FA rules prohibit two Newcastle stars from playing

Newcastle United is confronting a manpower shortage right at the beginning of the Premier League campaign. Joelinton and Sandro Tonali are both uncertain to play due to injuries, and Alexander Isak is also expected to continue missing games due to a strike.

In this context, coach Eddie Howe confirmed that Anthony Gordon and Fabian Schar will not be available for the upcoming away match at Elland Road this weekend. Gordon is suspended, while Schar must follow the concussion protocol as mandated by the FA.

After the 2-3 loss to Liverpool, Howe admitted the personnel situation is extremely worrying: “These are serious injuries. Joelinton, Tonali, and Schar all had to leave the field during the match, which is a big blow for us. Joey is not well at all, and Sandro is the same. He wants to keep playing but clearly can’t move properly. Additionally, we lost Anthony due to suspension and Fabian because of concussion.”

According to FA regulations, if Schar has indeed suffered a concussion, he must sit out for at least 12 days, or 7 days if he meets special criteria. This means the Swiss defender will definitely miss the Leeds game but could return for the match against Wolverhampton Wanderers after the international break.

Meanwhile, Gordon will serve a three-match suspension due to a direct red card from a foul on Virgil van Dijk. Although he insisted the incident was unintentional and apologized to Van Dijk, teammates, and fans, Newcastle decided not to appeal. The FA rules impose a three-match ban for serious foul play. Gordon will miss matches against Leeds, Wolves, and the third round of the Carabao Cup but will be back in time for the Champions League opener since domestic suspensions do not apply in European competitions.

With Isak also unavailable, Newcastle’s attack is severely depleted. In the first two rounds, Gordon had to play as an emergency striker, while Will Osula – who scored as a substitute against Liverpool – has yet to start a Premier League game. This forces Newcastle to urgently seek a new forward during the final week of the transfer window to strengthen their offensive firepower for the challenging period ahead.