Newcastle’s £38m summer signing Harvey Barnes suffers a setback in his recovery from a foot injury – and fear of surgery could mean his season is OVER

• The summer signing was injured during his second start for club in September
• Magpies have been stymied by injuries but cannot recall loanee Yakuba Minteh 
• Newcastle were naive against AC Milan and they’ve got in-form Fulham next – It’s All Kicking Off

Newcastle have been rocked by the news that Harvey Barnes has suffered a setback in his recovery from a foot injury – and there are fears he may need surgery.

The winger, signed from Leicester for £38million in the summer, was injured when making only his second start for the club in late September.

Barnes was nearing a return last week but Eddie Howe has revealed it will be January at the earliest before he is seen again. If needing an operation, the 26-year-old’s season could yet be over.

In a double blow, Newcastle do not have a recall clause for Yankuba Minteh, the 18-year-old winger who is on loan at Feyenoord. The £6m Gambian scored his first Champions League goal at Celtic on Wednesday and has impressed in Holland.

On Barnes, Howe said: ‘Unfortunately, he didn’t have surgery on his foot, the specialist felt he would be OK and we’re still hoping it’s not longer term and he won’t need an operation. But we’re still in that phase of whether he’s going to come back or not.

Harvey Barnes could see his season ended prematurely if his foot injury requires surgery

Eddie Howe was unwilling to give a final verdict as the club continues to assess the player

The former Leicester winger was injured during his second start for the club in September 

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‘It is a setback to a degree. He has felt a little bit of pain in his foot again, but we are hopeful it’s not a permanent setback, as in he’ll need an operation, but there is still a chance that might happen, so we’ll see.’

Asked about bringing Minteh back, Howe said: ‘We can’t recall him. We could possibly come to an agreement with the club and the player, but there’s no clause.’

Joe Willock is also out until January after a recent setback in his return from an Achilles injury, while Anthony Gordon (hamstring) is doubtful for Saturday’s visit of Fulham and Kieran Trippier is suspended.

Meanwhile, Howe could not confirm if Chelsea loanee Lewis Hall will still be a Newcastle player next season, meaning he could yet return to Stamford Bridge.

The 19-year-old joined the Magpies on a season-long loan in August with an obligation to buy for £28m, with a further £7m in add-ons. The deal included performance-related criteria that needed to be met and, so far, Hall has only made six appearances. In three of his four starts, he has been replaced at half-time.

The expectation is that the left-back will satisfy the terms and stay at St James’ Park, but given his lack of involvement it has led to questions over his future.

Asked if the criteria had already been triggered, Howe said: ‘You’re probably asking the wrong man, I’m not 100 per cent sure.’

A club official then intervened when Howe was asked directly if Hall would be a Newcastle player beyond this campaign.

Lewis Hall could yet return to Chelsea despite Newcastle having an obligation to buy the 19-year-old loanee 

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Would the decision be made by Howe?

‘It’s not mine,’ said the head coach. ‘For me, he’s here now, he’s a Newcastle player. But I think there’s certain criteria he has to meet.’

Howe added: ‘Lewis is a really talented player. He has huge technical qualities. He is creative and has very good final delivery. He’s a really good attacking full-back. He’s got certain things to learn defensively, which we’re working on with him.

‘But he’s a young age and also recently converted to a left-back. There needs to be a little bit of understanding that he may take a little bit of time to get the defensive solidity that we’re looking for, but he’s a player of such high promise.’

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