Newcastle United’s three-match unbeaten run came to an end last night as the Magpies lost 1-0 to Burnley at Turf Moor, a result which saw Rafael Benitez’s side miss out on the chance to rise to sixth in the Premier League table.
Fans were left bemused when the line-ups were announced due to the absence of Borussia Dortmund loanee Mikel Merino, who has been in sensational form since joining Newcastle United in the summer and becoming a fan favourite.
It was quickly revealed that the Spaniard was missing out due to injury and Benitez issued an update after the game on the timeline of Merino’s absence, revealing it’s not yet clear how long the Magpies will be without their influential midfielder for.
Speaking to the Shields Gazette, Benitez said:
“We have to wait to see. He’ll see a specialist and we’ll see how he feels. We’ll see what the specialist says after a couple of days to see we have the right decision,”
Newcastle host Bournemouth this weekend as they aim to return to winning ways, before clashing with Manchester United after November’s international break.
