AYOZE PEREZ will start as a lone striker when Newcastle United face Brighton tomorrow after Aleksandar Mitrovic and Dwight Gayle were both ruled out because of the after-effects of concussion.

Newcastle, who are close to completing a €3m deal for Palermo left-back Achraf Lazaar, have been forced to adhere to the Football Association’s protocol for concussion injuries, which was introduced in 2015 to bring football into line with other major sports.

Mitrovic and Gayle both sustained head injuries in Newcastle’s EFL Cup win over Cheltenham Town on Tuesday night, with neither striker being able to finish the game.

Mitrovic suffered a cut above his eye and was clearly complaining of blurred vision when he left the field in the first half. Gayle was injured in a second-half clash of heads as he competed for a corner, and while he briefly returned with his head heavily bandaged, he was also forced off before the hour mark.

Rafael Benitez initially claimed both players would be available for this weekend’s game, but the FA’s rules state that anyone suffering from concussion must have a phased return to action over a six-day period, meaning neither striker is available to play tomorrow.

Perez also hurt his head during Tuesday’s game – he was sporting some extensive bandaging when he scored both of Newcastle’s goals – but because he was able to complete the match without any further problems, he does not fall under the jurisdiction of the FA’s guidelines.

As a result, he is set to start as a lone striker against Brighton, with Mo Diame expected to play behind him in the ‘number ten’ role.

“It’s not the news everyone wanted to hear, but it’s the rules,” said Newcastle midfielder Isaac Hayden. “With the concussion rules, they can’t play, but we’ve got a big squad and there are players who can come in and do a job.

“For me, I’m still confident going into the Brighton game. Dwight’s on a hot streak, and long may that continue, but I think there are goals all around the team. I don’t think we can rely on just Dwight this season.

“Mitro’s come back, and he’s going to start scoring, but we’ve got Ayo, who can score goals. We’ve got players all around the team that can score.

“For me, it’s about the other lads contributing now, and with Dwight and Mitro not being able to play, it’s about them taking the opportunity.”

Newcastle received more bad news on the injury front yesterday as scans revealed Rolando Aarons fractured a metatarsal against Cheltenham.

Aarons lasted just 24 minutes of the League Cup win before he was forced to hobble off the pitch, and he was eventually carried around St James’ Park on a stretcher.

The winger signed a new five-year deal earlier this month, but could face up to three months on the sidelines as he recovers from his latest injury setback.

Benitez has been combining his preparations for tomorrow’s game with continued negotiations in the transfer market, and is close to finalising a deal for Lazaar.

The Magpies manager switched his attentions to the 24-year-old Moroccan after a proposed deal for Everton’s Brendan Galloway fell through, and St James’ Park sources are increasingly confident that an agreement is imminent.

Lazaar has made 73 senior appearances for Palermo, but his contract with the Serie A side is due to expire at the end of the season and Newcastle will pay around £2.5m to take him to St James’ Park.

West Ham and Southampton have also been linked with the defender this summer, and he will provide competition for Paul Dummett and Ciaran Clark if he completes his move to the North-East.

Benitez is still expected to sanction the departure of three or four players before next Wednesday’s transfer deadline, with Emmanuel Riviere, Cheick Tiote and Moussa Sissoko all set to move elsewhere.

Tottenham have become the latest club to inquire about Sissoko’s price tag, and having named the midfielder in his France squad for next month’s World Cup qualifiers yesterday, Didier Deschamps clearly expects a deal to be concluded next week.

“His (Sissoko) transfer situation should be solved very soon,” said Deschamps. “He has always been an important player for us.”

Hayden is set to make his England Under-21 debut next month after he was named in Gareth Southgate’s squad for the Euro 2017 qualifier with Norway on September 6, and having opened his Newcastle account against Reading, he is determined to add to his goalscoring tally.

“If the manager wants me to get forward more, I think I’ve got the ability to score goals,” said Hayden. “I worked a lot last year, especially in training, on finishing because of that.

It just depends on the role. If the manager wants me to play a bit deeper, then I’m obviously not going to get into those positions. But, for me, it’s definitely something I can add to my game. If I can, I’ll be a better player.”