Newcastle have been hit by one of the worst bizarre injury updates of all-time and fans are not impressed with one of their stars
Eddie Howe has disclosed that his squad will be short one player for their upcoming clash against Manchester City this weekend due to an unexpected health issue—eczema.
Newcastle United’s season has been somewhat unpredictable so far, although they currently sit in a respectable sixth place in the Premier League standings with 10 points from their first five games. However, the team’s on-field performances have not exactly instilled confidence among the fans. Their most recent match saw them suffer a disappointing 3-1 defeat at the hands of Fulham, raising concerns about their consistency.
One silver lining for Howe has been the return of Sandro Tonali to the squad. This is a significant boost for the team, especially since they are not juggling the demands of European football this season. With the club’s significant financial investment in recent years, Newcastle is under pressure to deliver a strong campaign, and they will need to respond positively, especially against a tough opponent like Manchester City in Saturday’s early kick-off.
However, Howe will have to navigate the match without one of his first-team regulars—Matt Targett—who is sidelined due to a severe eczema flare-up. While skin conditions like eczema can be painful and debilitating, the reason for Targett’s absence stands out as one of the more unusual ones in Premier League history.
Speaking during a press conference on Friday, Howe confirmed the nature of Targett’s unavailability: “Matt has had a flare-up of eczema, and he’s been dealing with that for the past couple of weeks. It’s been quite a severe episode for him, and we’re hoping to get him back in training soon, but unfortunately, he won’t be available this weekend.”
Targett, who initially impressed during his loan spell at Newcastle, has struggled to secure a regular spot in the starting eleven since making his move permanent in a £15 million deal. His battle for consistent game time has been compounded by persistent injuries. The full-back missed a significant portion of last season, sitting out 35 games due to long-term hamstring and Achilles problems.
Now 29 years old, Targett has yet to make an appearance for Newcastle since October 2023 and has not been named in a matchday squad since January. His latest setback with eczema adds to the frustration, but Howe remains hopeful that the defender will be back to full fitness soon. For now, though, the team will have to face one of the toughest sides in the league without him, adding further complexity to what is already shaping up to be a crucial match for Newcastle’s season.