Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe has confimed that Joe Willock and Jonjo Shelvey will miss the last two matches of the season.
The Magpies boss turned to 18-year-old youth team star Jay Turner-Cooke to bolster his squad for the trip to Manchester City yesterday and the youngster warmed up as the spare man ahead of the 5-0 defeat. Turner-Cooke impressed Howe at last week's Northumberland Senior Cup final against Blyth Spartans.
Shelvey has suffered a calf injury while Willock's knee is playing up again. United could in theory use Elliot Anderson after his loan deal under Joey Barton's Bristol Rovers, but they would have to appeal to the Premier League to to do so and claim "exceptional circumstances" due to shortages because of injuries.
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United were resigned to Rovers playing in the play-offs in League Two but a 7-0 win and Anderson's historic goal swung things in their favour and they bagged an automatic promotion slot on the final day with a big win over Scunthorpe.
Speaking on the injured duo, Howe said last night: "Joe’s had a knee problem for a couple of months. We felt it had gone, but it came back against Liverpool last week, so it looks like his season is over.
"Jonjo has picked up a calf injury, which is quite similar, I think, to the one he had at the start of this season. It looks like both players are out for the season."
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