Emil Krafth has been forced to withdraw from Sweden duty over the international break after picking up a ‘minor injury’ in Newcastle’s 2-1 win over Spurs on Sunday.
After filling in superbly for Fabian Schar over our first few games of the season, the 30-year-old was due to be representing his country in upcoming Nations League games against Azerbaijan and Estonia.
However, he’ll now remain on Tyneside to receive treatment in a bid to recover for our trip to Wolves a week on Sunday.
The good news for Eddie Howe is that Fabian Schar’s three-match ban is now over, meaning he’ll be fit and available for our next game should Krafth face a spell on the sidelines.
Schar has also called time on his international career ahead of Switzerland’s Nations League campaign this month, so there’s far less risk of our ball-playing centre-back picking up a knock over the next 10 days.
That said, it is a worry that Krafth has felt something. With no centre-back signed over the summer and Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles still recovering ACL injuries, let’s hop Krafth’s issue really is ‘minor.’