Eddie Howe confirms double injury blow on Tino Livramento and Anthony Gordon

Eddie Howe has faced the media on Friday morning ahead of Saturday's trip to Arsenal. It's a 5:30pm kick-off in London, live on Sky Sports.

The Newcastle manager is under pressure to get results in the final few games of the season, so going up against a title challenger is less than ideal.

What makes matters even worse is that two of his big players picked up knocks last week and will not make their return in time for this game.

Anthony Gordon missed the game against Bournemouth with a hip injury, while Tino Livramento pulled up with a groin issue during the game.

We'd been given strong hints from the media that neither player would be fit for Saturday's game, and now Eddie Howe has confirmed it this morning.

Tino Livramento's season could be over

It was mixed news on the pair as Howe said that Gordon may return the following week, but Tino Livramento faces a long spell on the sidelines.

"Tino went for a scan initially, we don't think it's a bad injury. He is due to have another scan at the weekend to determine the full extent of his time out, we will wait and see whether he plays again this season. 

"Anthony won’t make the game; he hasn’t trained this week. He won’t be fit in time for this game, but hopefully the next one."

At least we have Bruno

Neither player has exactly been setting the world alight with their form of late, but we all know that both are capable of doing that on their day, so it's still a huge blow to lose them both.

When you add in that Joelinton will also miss this game through suspension, Eddie Howe's choices are looking rather bleak.

Fortunately, Bruno Guimaraes made a return against Bournemouth last week and will play a part on Saturday too.