'Strong togetherness': A new support group is forming at Newcastle in the wake of double blow last season

Last season saw Newcastle United hit by an unprecedented number of serious injuries, the effects of which will be felt well into the next campaign.

While every club undergoes its fair share of injuries throughout the season, Newcastle's bad luck in that department was something we've not seen before.

Each new injury seemed to be a serious knock that would keep the player out for a month or more, it was very rare that we suffered knocks that the lads could just run off in time for the next game.

In fact, only Anthony Gordon and Fabian Schar managed to do that, although both eventually ran out of luck missing games towards the end of the season.

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Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles will miss a huge chunk of next season

Two Newcastle stars will still be absent come Christmas after they both picked up anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries that required surgery, both within the space of a month.

Sven Botman had struggled all season with a knee problem before he finally succumbed to the dreaded ACL injury, and then just a few weeks later, skipper Jamaal Lascelles suffered the same fate.

Both defenders went under the knife and face being out of action until the end of the year.

Emil Krafth has offered support and advice to the defensive duo

Fellow Newcastle defender Emil Krafth knows only too well how bad that injury can be after suffering the same in the previous season, missing around a year of football, and he recently told The Chronicle how he reacted to hearing the news about Sven and Jamaal.

"I'll always be there for them, whether in the dressing room or over the phone. As soon as I realised what happened to both Sven and Jamaal, I rang them and let them know I'm here for them.

"I have been through it and I know what it is all about. If they need anything I can help them. And remember both of them were there for me when I was injured for so long. We have a strong togetherness."

"There is always life on the other side of an injury. Nothing is impossible. They will both come back and they will both be stronger for it. You just have to give it the time to heal and everything, but they will be fine."