Newcastle United duo Callum Wilson and Sven Botman have reportedly suffered major setbacks in their recovery from injury.
Wilson was forced off at half time in the Champions League defeat away against Borussia Dortmund on November 7 with a hamstring injury, and he subsequently missed the loss at former club Bournemouth in the Premier League four days later.
The 31-year-old, who has scored seven goals in 10 top-flight games for Newcastle this season, also withdrew from the England squad this month, and the striker is now set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
According to The Telegraph, Wilson is expected to be ruled out for the next six weeks with his hamstring injury and will therefore not return to first-team action until the end of December.
The report also stated that there are growing concerns over the fitness of centre-back Botman, as Newcastle fear that the Dutchman may require surgery to mend a troublesome knee injury.
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Botman has not featured for the Magpies since scoring his first goal for the club in the 8-0 victory over Sheffield United at the end of September, and he has since been regularly assessed by the club's medical staff to determine the severity of his injury.
It is understood that Newcastle were hoping surgery and a lengthy period of rehabilitation could be avoided for Botman, but the defender's recovery is taking longer than expected and there are no signs of an immediate return to first-team action.
Should the 23-year-old require surgery, the report states that he would be expected to be sidelined until February at the earliest, news that comes as a major blow for manager Eddie Howe who is dealing with a significant injury crisis that is showing no signs of slowing down.
Wilson and Botman are two of 12 players who are currently nursing injuries, although Alexander Isak and Miguel Almiron are believed to be closing in on a return.
Isak has missed Newcastle's last five matches with a groin problem, while Almiron sustained a thigh injury in the defeat at Bournemouth last time out, but both players could be available to return after the international break.
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Meanwhile, Harvey Barnes has been sidelined since the end of September with a foot injury, and although he is said to be making 'good progress' in his recovery, the winger is not expected to return for at least another month.
Elliot Anderson is nursing a stress fracture to his lower back and could be in a position to return before the end of the year, but Magpies trio Jacob Murphy (shoulder), Dan Burn (back) and Matt Targett (hamstring) are all set to remain sidelined until the middle of January.
Newcastle United play host to Chelsea in the Premier League on November 25 and two players who have emerged as doubts for that fixture are Sean Longstaff and Fabian Schar.
Both Longstaff and Schar picked up respective ankle and hamstring problems in the defeat at Bournemouth, but managed to see out the game; Schar is currently away on international duty with Switzerland but was left out of the squad that drew 1-1 with Israel in Euro 2024 qualifying on Wednesday.
Away from the injury front, Lewis Hall will miss Newcastle's next match as he is ineligible to face his parent club Chelsea, and Sandro Tonali is serving his 10-month ban for breaching betting rules, but Bruno Guimaraes is available to return from a one-game suspension.
Oliver Thomas
