Newcastle United's first loss upon their return to the Champions League could prove costly, as injuries compound manager Eddie Howe's frustrations after a rainy 1-0 defeat to Borussia Dortmund at St James' Park on Wednesday.

The defeat places Newcastle in a challenging position to advance from Group F, despite their current standing with four points from three games, matching Dortmund, according to Reuters.

However, of greater concern to Howe are the injuries sustained by forwards Alexander Isak and Jacob Murphy. Isak, from Sweden, was forced to leave the pitch after just 15 minutes, replaced by Callum Wilson. Later, Murphy, who came on as a substitute, was able to play for only a few minutes before falling awkwardly on his shoulder.
With a congested schedule of matches ahead, Howe expressed his apprehension about stretching the squad even further. He commented, "Isak going off was a blow, and Jacob came off with what looks like a serious injury. We've got a small squad as is, and that's probably the most disappointing thing of the night. It appears to be a recurrence of Isak's groin problem, and it's a significant setback. Jacob's injury looks serious and may involve a shoulder dislocation."
Howe also confirmed that midfielder Elliot Anderson was sidelined due to a back issue. He stated, "He's dealing with a back problem, and I believe he'll be out for several weeks."
Newcastle is set to face Wolverhampton Wanderers in an away Premier League fixture on Saturday