Full extent of Emil Krafth injury goes public as Newcastle learn likely return date

As revealed by The Mail’s Craig Hope, the initial prognosis suggests a six to eight weeks recovery time, meaning the Swede is likely to miss our festive fixtures and return in the first few weeks of 2025.

This loss comes at a particularly bad time for Newcastle and Eddie Howe, who is already without Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles due to injury, but also Dan Burn after his fifth yellow of the season leaves him facing a one-match ban.

This means that Fabian Schar and Lloyd Kelly will be our only senior recognised centre-backs for our home tie against West Ham after the international break, with Schar himself just one booking away from suspension.

It’s also a big blow personally for Krafth, who rarely lets us down when called upon. The 30-year-old would’ve been hoping for some game time over the busy festive period, especially with contract talks underway as he approaches the final six months of his deal on Tyneside.

Hopefully he can make a quick recovery and this is not the start of more injury issues for Newcastle, who suffered dreadfully this time last year.