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Boss Laments "Critical" Injury List
Written by Newcastle Utd
Alan Pardew has described United's injury list as "critical", ahead of Tuesday's game against Burnley
By Tom Easterby
Alan Pardew has described Newcastle United's injury list as "critical", revealing three youth team players will be in the travelling party that heads to Burnley for Tuesday night's Barclays Premier League clash (7.45pm kick-off).
However, the Magpies boss insists that despite the growing number of out-of-action first teamers - through both injury and suspension - his side will be more than capable of earning themselves a positive result against Sean Dyche's struggling Clarets.
"(It's) critical, I would say, in terms of the spine of the team," admitted Pardew of the United's packed treatment room.
"No Tim (Krul), no (Fabricio) Coloccini, no Moussa (Sissoko), no Jack (Colback), who'd probably all start if they were fit.
"But we've been in this position, on this winning run, before and we've won, because the squad has got good strength.
"We're taking 22 players and three of those players are youth team players."
Dutch international Daryl Janmaat is a doubt for the trip to Turf Moor but has made his way to Lancashire with the rest of the threadbare United squad, while winger Rolando Aarons is definitely out as he continues to recover from a hamstring problem.
"(Janmaat) has got a strain. We've taken all the players who are struggling, but we could be without (Mike) Williamson, (Massadio) Haidara and Janmaat on top of the injuries that we have.
"Rolando won't be back until after the Chelsea game."
There was one crumb of comfort offered by the United manager, though, as he hopes a number of his key players will be able to make their comebacks in the visit of league leaders Chelsea to St. James' Park this weekend.
"We do expect two or three to be back on Saturday," he said.
"Of course Moussa and Jack will return (from suspension), but hopefully Coloccini and maybe a couple more, so we'll see."