Newcastle United update on two key first team stars' injury ahead of Arsenal Carabao Cup clash

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe provided fitness updates on two Magpies first team stars following an action-packed 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday afternoon.

The Magpies make the trip back to the capital again on Tuesday night to face Arsenal in what looks to be an enticing Carabao Cup encounter under the lights at the Emirates Stadium. Both outfits have been in a rich vein of form over the festive period and New Year.

Howe welcomed Sven Botman back into the matchday squad against Spurs for the first time since March, when the player sustained a serious ACL injury in an FA Cup meeting with Manchester City. That injury had spurred Newcastle United to sign Lloyd Kelly and pursue Marc Guehi during the summer window.

Sven Botman limps off against Spurs

The Magpies have been in fine defensive form recently, the goal conceded against Spurs the first the Tyneside outfit had conceded in the league since facing Brentford on December 7. News of Botman's return certainly won't make Mikel Arteta's hopes of beating his in-form opponents any easier.

However, Botman went down in the centre circle at the start of stoppage time against Spurs and limped off before the final whistle. Providing an update after the game and ahead of facing Arsenal, Howe said: “I don’t think it was anything more than cramp for Sven. Which was expected given the amount of time he’s been out.

“It was a great effort from him to last that long. We were unsure how long he would be able to go for, with the speed of the Premier League. But thankfully he got through the majority of the game.”

Schar largely impressed on his return to action but was culpable for losing Dominic Solanke as Spurs took the lead after four minutes. Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer noted: “[Botman’s] a bit raw. I think he’s got to be stronger. In two weeks, you’d expect him to do that but there are mitigating circumstances.”

Anthony Gordon takes ‘nasty’ blow to face

Howe had provided his reasoning for pushing the defender straight back into the squad against Spurs, with Fabian Schar suspended for the fixture - the Swiss defender is also ineligible to face Arsenal. Howe said: “The thinking behind it was that he had done the work. I wouldn’t have done it if I didn’t feel that he was physically ready.

“He’s been very dedicated to his recovery. We’ve seen him put in an extraordinary amount of work before he started training with us, and he’s been training with us for six weeks now.

“He’s had three games and looked good in those games. Of course, he won’t be at his optimum level, but that will come in the following months. I thought he was physically ready to play, and mentally ready to play too. He’s been champing at the bit to play again. It was a difficult start for him and the team, with Tottenham scoring, but it was a great response and I thought he did very well.”

Anthony Gordon scored the leveller for the Magpies against Spurs but also came to blows in the fixture, suffering a nasty cut to the face in the second half. Howe said: “I think it was just a cut. It was a nasty one, and he had blood all over him, so he did well to get back onto the pitch. Hopefully, it was nothing more than that though.”