Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez has revealed injuries to three players mean they will miss their chance to stake a claim for regular team place against Preston North End tonight.
With the Spaniard expected to rotate his side for the EFL Cup tie, left back Achraf Lazaar, right back Jesus Gamez and striker Daryl Murphy could all have been given starts if they had been fit, but Benitez told the Chronicle that the trio will not be available for the match:
“The players who were injured before are the same. Murphy, Lazaar who has a little problem, and Gamez it is too early because I don’t want to take any risks with any of them. We have enough players to use them.”
Although the news regarding Jesus Gamez is not particularly surprising considering his trouble recovering from a calf injury, the ongoing injuries to Murphy and Lazaar will be a blow to the two players.
Lazaar has appeared in just two matches since he arrived from Serie A side Palermo in the summer. He played the full 90 minutes in the last round against Wolves but he has been restricted to playing just six minutes in the league, coming on as a late substitute against Brentford 10 days ago.
Murphy meanwhile has played just once, also in the last round of the EFL Cup against Wolves. With both Dwight Gayle and Ayoze Perez firing in the goals, and Aleksandar Mitrovic possibly getting his chance to shine tonight, the Republic of Ireland international will struggle to get a look in.
