Newcastle United's double Carabao Cup final 'blow'
Newcastle United have lost Anthony Gordon to suspension and Lewis Hall to injury ahead of the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool
As a football writer, I have written about plenty of “blows” suffered by Newcastle United in my career.
Lady Luck, unquestionably, has landed a few body blows on the seemingly luckless club over the years.
Countless season-ending injuries, suspensions and refereeing mistakes have hit the club hard during my time in the press box.
These bombshells, another journalese term, once sold newspapers. Now they drive clicks online.
There have been some big blows over the years, and the club was hit hard again at the weekend. And again this week.
Eddie Howe’s side did not just lose their FA Cup tie against Brighton and Hove Albion on Sunday, they lost one of their match-winners ahead of this month’s Carabao Cup final.
Gordon, dismissed for raising his hands against Jan Paul van Hecke after a tussle for the ball, paused to speak to Howe after leaving the pitch in front of a disbelieving crowd. The club’s fans, realising that Gordon was set to miss three games through suspension, were speechless.
Howe suggested after the game that the club would consider appealing the “harsh” decision.
“It’s very difficult to form an opinion,” said United’s head coach. “I haven’t seen a replay, but my original thought was it looked harsh.
“I’m sure his intention wasn’t to harm anyone. I’ve only seen Anthony briefly and he was very disappointed.”
Replays, however, revealed that the chances of a successful appeal were slim to non-existent.
Alexander Isak, the club’s talisman, was also taken off with “general tightness”.
“I don't think it was an injury, it was just general tightness, but we felt as though he had to come off,” added Howe.
Howe must be tempted to wrap 22-goal Isak up in cotton wool before the final, such is his importance to Newcastle’s hopes of winning a first major trophy since 1969, but the club has to first navigate a Premier League fixture away to West Ham United on Monday night.
Season-ending injury
There was another blow this week. It was revealed that Lewis Hall will miss the rest of the season with the foot injury he suffered against Liverpool at Anfield late last month.
A club statement read: “Following a scan and advice from a specialist, Lewis will undergo surgery before a period of rehabilitation with the club's medical team.”
Sven Botman is also set to miss the final in a “devastating blow” after reportedly being told he needs knee surgery.
Many fans will head to the capital more in hope than expectation knowing the odds are seemingly stacked against Newcastle, beaten 2-0 in the 2023 final by Manchester United.
That day the club was without the suspended Nick Pope after he was dismissed for handling outside his box, while Martin Dubravka, in goal against Brighton, was cup-tied following a loan at Old Trafford in the first half of the campaign. See the pattern?
Liverpool, Europe’s form team this season, are harder opponents, and Howe’s side are going to have to do it the hard way.
Having beaten four top-flight teams – Nottingham Forest, Brentford, Chelsea and Arsenal – on the way to the final, they must now take on Premier League leaders Liverpool at Wembley without Gordon, who has been a fixture in the team.
Gordon has hardly put a foot wrong since joining the club from Everton in January 2023, though he made headlines for the wrong reasons a couple of years ago after reacting angrily to being taken off against Brentford.
The winger quickly apologised.
Speaking at the time, Howe said: “Part of me understood why he acted like he did. I didn’t condone it. You don’t want to see any player react like that, because, suddenly, you will have a team that looks like it doesn’t have the discipline that it needs.”
Howe needs a disciplined team at Wembley for what could yet be a historic occasion for the club.
This side has faced adversity before, notably in the months following Howe’s appointment and last season, when the club’s head coach had to contend with a lengthy injury list.
There is a degree of pessimism on Tyneside now following the losses of Gordon and Hall, but come cup final, there will be optimism among the club’s 31,939-strong Wembley contingent.
And, with Isak up front, Newcastle can still make their own luck at Wembley.
I sincerely hope you are right, Miles. I was there in 1974 for NUFC's last Wembley Cup appearance against Liverpool. The lads just didn't turn up that day. And it's a shame we lost against Brighton as we could have had a repeat of what became the notorious '74 quarter final against Forest. Not condoning the invasion but my goodness St James' was rocking with Blaydon Races by the end.