NEWCASTLE UNITED’S injury problems show no sign of abating – but at least the Magpies returned to winning ways as they successfully saw off ten-man Fulham at St James’ Park.

Fabian Schar and Joelinton were the latest players to hobble off and add their names to Newcastle’s ever-lengthening injury list, but their setbacks did not prove decisive.

With Raul Jimenez receiving a first-half red card for a challenge that caught Sean Longstaff in the head, Eddie Howe’s side played again ten men for more than an hour.

Their pressure eventually told, with homegrown teenager Lewis Miley breaking the deadlock as he hammered home his first senior goal shortly before the hour mark.

Miguel Almiron doubled Newcastle’s lead seven minutes later, with the returning Dan Burn adding a third goal eight minutes from time as the Magpies ended a run of three successive defeats in all competitions.

The win was the ideal way to prepare for Tuesday’s Carabao Cup quarter-final with Chelsea, although when it comes to injuries, it is a case of one step forward, two steps back at the moment. Burn and Sean Longstaff returned to the starting line-up this afternoon, with Sven Botman also coming on as an 83rd-minute substitute. But there was no Alexander Isak in the squad because of a groin injury.

Then, once the action got under way, the Magpies lost both Fabian Schar and Joelinton before the interval with what appeared to be hamstring issues. Schar lasted less than quarter-of-an-hour before he was forced to limp off, with Joelinton following him down the tunnel nine minutes before the break.

The injuries were the main first-half talking point from a Newcastle perspective, with the key incident from a Fulham point of view the 20th-minute challenge that led to Jimenez’s dismissal.

Jimenez leapt into a wholly unnecessary challenge close to the touchline, and while he appeared to try to withdraw at the final second, his thigh still clattered into Longstaff’s face.

Referee Sam Barrott initially awarded a yellow card, but after being instructed to watch a replay on his pitchside monitor by VAR, he changed his mind and issued a straight red.

Playing against ten men, Newcastle unsurprisingly dominated possession, but the hosts still struggled to create clear-cut chances against a well-organised Fulham defence.

Their best moment came before the break came just before the half-hour mark, but while Anthony Gordon controlled substitute Emil Krafth’s cross at the back post, his drive cannoned back off the underside of the crossbar.

Callum Wilson glanced a header from a Gordon cross straight at Bernd Leno, but Fulham went close themselves in the 34th minute.

Joelinton’s misplaced back-pass sent Alex Iwobi galloping into the left of the box, but the midfielder fired a low shot straight at Martin Dubravka.

It felt like only a matter of time before Newcastle’s pressure would tell, but while Gordon and Miley both fired in shots in the opening seven minutes of the second half, both of their efforts were saved by Leno.

Three minutes before the hour mark, though, and the deadlock was final broken. Guimaraes held off three defenders as he dribbled his way into the box, before prodding a pass through to Miley. The teenager took aim, and drilled a crisp low finish across Leno and into the far corner.

It was a landmark moment for the Stanley-born teenager, who celebrated his first senior goal with his team-mates in front of the Gallowgate End. As he began to walk away, Gordon pushed him back in front of the fans to ensure he soaked up every second of the crowd’s adulation.

Newcastle badly needed the breakthrough, and it was duly followed by a second goal just seven minutes later. Gordon was aiming for Wilson as he threaded a ball into the box, but the Magpies’ number nine was bundled over by Antonee Robinson.

It would probably have been a penalty, but the ball continued through to Almiron, who was able to gleefully stroke home from close range.

Newcastle’s dominance throughout the second half was pretty much total, and a third goal arrived with eight minutes left.

Burn’s initial header from Guimaraes’ chipped cross was saved by Leno, but he was able to bundle the rebound over the line from a couple of yards out.

The Magpies almost added a fourth goal in stoppage time, but while Guimaraes found Wilson in the box, the striker’s shot struck the base of the post.