NEWCASTLE UNITED have suffered a second Asian Cup blow after Yoshinori Muto was belatedly called up to the Japan squad for the tournament in the United Arab Emirates.

Muto was left out of Hajime Moriyasu’s initial 23-man squad, but the Japan boss has had a change of heart and the Magpies forward will now be involved.

Muto will link up with his international colleagues after Newcastle’s home game with Manchester United on January 2, and could miss four Premier League games as well as up to two FA Cup ties.

The Magpies are also losing the services of Ki Sung-yueng, with the South Korea international having recently revealed that he could have to leave Tyneside after this weekend’s home game with Fulham.