NEWCASTLE UNITED’S injury situation has worsened again, with Callum Wilson facing a three-month lay-off because of a chest muscle injury.

Wilson suffered his latest injury setback in the closing stages of last weekend’s 3-2 victory at Nottingham Forest, an while he completed the game at the City Ground, he left the pitch in considerable pain after the final whistle.

Scans this week have revealed damage to his pectoral tendon, and he requires surgery to enable him to recover from the problem.

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Assuming he has the operation which is being planned, he will be sidelined for around 12 weeks, ruling him out of the vast majority of the remainder of the season.

Wilson could return for the final couple of matches, but it is conceivable he could also miss the whole of the rest of the campaign. Given that his current contract is due to expire next summer, and that he was linked with a possible move away from Tyneside in the January transfer window, it remains to be seen what will happen with the England international, who is due to turn 32 at the end of this month.

His immediate absence is a major blow for Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe, with Alexander Isak having missed the last two matches because of a groin issue. The Swede’s latest problem is not believed to be especially serious, but he remains a major doubt for Saturday’s home game with Bournemouth.

If both Wilson and Isak are absent at the weekend, Howe will probably have to revert to the remodelled formation he adopted for the first half of this month’s 4-4 draw with Luton Town, which saw Anthony Gordon play through the middle as the central striker.

Gordon was forced off at the half-time interval of that game because of an ankle issue, but was deemed fit enough to feature in last weekend’s win at Nottingham Forest.