Newcastle United now have three first-choice centre-backs out for the season

Eddie Howe faced the media this morning ahead of tomorrow's trip to Turf Moor to take on relegation-threatened Burnley.

Injuries were as always the first order of business with Eddie Howe confirming that Fabian Schar's injury will keep him out of tomorrow's game, and indeed the three subsequent beyond that.

Fabian Schar was almost withdrawn in the first-half against Sheffield United last week but the Toonminator, Newcastle's only player to start every Premier League game this season, waved to the bench that he will carry on.

He didn't reappear for the second half and after the game it was confirmed that he'd picked up a hamstring injury.

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Schar is unlikely to play again this season

Given Schar's uncanny ability to shake off injuries this season, we weren't giving up hope that he'd return to action against Burnley, but Eddie Howe has now confirmed that will not be the case (via The Chronicle).

"Fabian will miss a period of time out with a minor hamstring problem. He won't play tomorrow and I doubt we will see him again until next season."

This leaves Newcastle dangerously short at the back. In fact, other than Dan Burn, Newcastle now have no natural first-team centre-backs available and will have to resort to full-backs stepping inside.

This injury really exposes our lack of depth in defence

We never thought we'd see the day this season that an injury would actually take Fabian Schar down, but I suppose if Sarah Connor can take down a Terminator, they clearly do have weaknesses.

With four games to go and no defence, our end-of-season push for Europe just got way trickier, but we're Newcastle United and we don't do things the easy way.

One thing this does do is reaffirm just how much Newcastle need defensive reinforcements in this summer. Fingers crossed these Tosin Adarabioyo rumours pan out.