Newcastle United have been rocked by a bad injury to Jesus Gamez.
The former Malaga skipper was carried off on a stretcher in his first league start during the Magpies’ 1-0 loss to Blackburn Rovers.
Gamez, who signed from Atletico Madrid in the summer in a high profile switch, has damaged his collarbone and was hospitalised after suffering an injury in the second half of the club’s fourth defeat of the season.
Gamez had only just recovered from an achilles problem.
Newcastle must wait for further analysis of the injury but collarbone problems can leave players out for up to a month, meaning he will miss the Christmas period.
Rafa Benitez said after the game: “It’s his clavicle. We have to think it will be bad.”
Benitez also expressed his sympathy for the Spanish full-back.
He said: “He was doing well, after some time we needed to see if he could play and he was moving forward. It was a pity.”
After the defeat to Blackburn, visiting boss Owen Coyle was delighted with his team.
He tipped Newcastle to win the title before saying: “Newcastle ramped it up late on, but I think Jason Steele only had one save to make and that was from Ciaran Clark from the second phase of a corner.
“They put plenty of balls into the box but the back lads stood up to everything that was asked of them. It was a wonderful all-round display.
“Sometimes you come to big stadiums like this, against a team who I have no doubts will win the league, you can ride your luck, your keeper makes some great saves and they hit the woodwork etc, but nothing could be further from the truth.
“We have earned and deserved those three points.”