Newcastle United suffer FIVE injuries in Leicester loss as Steve Bruce bemoans festive schedule

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - JANUARY 01: Javier Manquillo of Newcastle United reacts to an injury during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Leicester City at St. James Park on January 01, 2020 in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom. (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)

Bruce believes the festive scheduling in the top flight this season was a step too far as he lost FOUR players to muscle problems and suffered FIVE seperate injuries in what he describes as a ‘crazy' top flight encounter.

"It is the load. We don't have the opportunity to change 10 players. Most teams make five or six. With our injuries we couldn't do that,” said Bruce, who was already without Matt Ritchie, Jamaal Lascelles, Allan Saint-Maximin, Paul Dummett and Ciaran Clark.

"I was concerned. You don't want to lose four players, Yedlin has broken his hand too. It could have been five. In all the years I have been involved I have not known a crazy 15 minutes like that.

“To ask players to play so many games - this is the consequence. It is what it is. It was bizarre. There was nothing in the game."

Bruce reveals he could get a couple of bodies back, but it is unlikely before the FA Cup clash at Rochdale.

"A little bit of light with Ritchie, Lascelles & Dummett,” revealed Bruce.

"I don't know until tomorrow. Clark I can't see it, nor Lascelles. Tomorrow is a big day for Dummett. Yedlin will have x-rays and scans to see if it is broken. His hand is a mess."