'Hopefully he's ok': Eddie Howe has his fingers crossed after star player was withdrawn from action

The preparation has begun for Newcastle United's meeting with Everton on Saturday in the 5:30pm kick-off live on Sky Sports.

Newcastle saw off the challenge of League Two opponents AFC Wimbledon in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night thanks to a Fabian Schar penalty. In truth, without that spot-kick we're not sure whether the Magpies would have scored at all.

It was quite fitting that captain-for-the-night Fabian Schar got the goal as he was by far Newcastle's most impressive player over the course of the game.

However, the recently-retired Swiss international was replaced by Dan Burn late in the game after Schar took a knock on his ankle and looked to be struggling.

Serena Taylor/Getty Images

Fabian Schar was taken off with an injury late in the game

It takes some doing to get The Toonminator to have to be substituted. We've literally seen him play on with a broken nose, so it was definitely a worry seeing him hobbling around.

After the game, Eddie Howe touched on the issue when speaking to the media (via The Chronicle).

"I think it was a couple of things. Hopefully, he's OK. It was a bang to his ankle and a bit of tightness in his body."

Newcastle did pick up an injury concern

Howe doesn't sound too concerned so we'll expect to see Schar lining up in his usual spot on Saturday,

Less likely to have his name on the teamsheet is second-choice goalkeeper Martin Dubravka who was taken off at half time after a taking a hefty knock. Dubz looked visibly uncomfortable as the physios tended to him on the pitch but for some reason stayed on the pitch for the last 10 minutes or so of the first half.

He was ultimately replaced by Odysseas Vlachodimos who made his debut after his baffling £20 million move from Nottingham Forest.

Ody and John Ruddy were both on the bench as Nick Pope sat this one out with swelling on his knee which Eddie Howe believes won't keep him out of Saturday's game.