NEWCASTLE UNITED have suffered a major double injury blow with the news that Miguel Almiron and Allan Saint-Maximin will both be ruled out until April at the earliest.

The attacking duo both failed to complete Saturday's 1-1 draw with Wolves, and scans have revealed significant damage.

Almiron has suffered knee-ligament damage, while Saint-Maximin has suffered a tear to his groin.

The exact timetable for the pair's recuperation will be finalised later this week, but they have already been ruled out for at least the next four weeks. With Almiron in particular, there is a chance his recovery could take longer.

The pair will definitely miss Sunday's game at relegation rivals West Brom, and will also play no part in this month's matches against Aston Villa and Brighton.

At this stage, the earliest realistic return date for either player is the home game with Tottenham, currently scheduled for April 3, that comes after the international break.

The injury news is a massive blow to Magpies manager Steve Bruce as he attempts to guide his side to safety in the final two-and-a-half months of the season.

It is hoped Callum Wilson could return from his hamstring injury for the Brighton game, but the next two matches will see Bruce having to cope without his three best attacking players.

Joelinton, Dwight Gayle and Andy Carroll will come into contention to lead the line at the Hawthorns this weekend, although Bruce could also choose to field Ryan Fraser in an attacking role if he opts to stick with the three-man attacking formation he has been selecting in recent games.