Eddie Howe already facing defensive issues a week after January transfer window closed and Lloyd Kelly left for Juventus

Newcastle United took a big gamble in January by weakening the squad in a bid to balance the books and not bringing in any new faces to balance the squad.

Lloyd Kelly was moved on to Juventus at the end of the window, following Miguel Almiron out of the door.

While Kelly was hardly tearing up the Premier League, he did provide cover in defence where Newcastle are famously understaffed, and it looks like the decision may already have come back to bite them.

Sven Botman missed the trip to Birmingham on Saturday after feeling some discomfort in his knee in the game against Arsenal in midweek.

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Sven Botman and Dan Burn are both doubts for Manchester City

On Saturday, Dan Burn was pulled before the hour mark complaining of a groin issue, leaving Eddie Howe with potentially a big problem in defence going into the game against Manchester City.

Lloyd Kelly would likely have been drafted into the starting lineup at left centre-back if neither Burn nor Botman were fit enough, but now Howe is going to have to play somebody out of position to cover.

Fabian Schar may have to move over to LCB with Emil Krafth coming in at RCB, and while that could work, it's less than ideal going into a game against the Premier League champions.

Newcastle will make assessments on the injured duo this week

I suppose the one saving grace is that we'd be complaining regardless. If Lloyd Kelly had to start against Man City we'd be whining about that too.

Hopefully, at least one of Botman and Burn will be fit enough to start on Saturday, ideally, both will be in the squad.

One week after the window closes, man. Who didn't see this one coming?