Nico Gonzalez Set To Miss Newcastle’s Hull City Clash Due To FA Concussion Rules
Newcastle United midfielder Nico Gonzalez faces a race against time to be cleared for his side’s upcoming Championship clash against Hull City on Saturday.
FA regulations surrounding head injuries mean the Spaniard may not have passed the required deadline to return to action following a concussion scare.
Gonzalez picked up the injury early in Newcastle’s recent defeat away to Leeds United, forcing manager Matthias Jaissle to substitute him as a precaution.
The club acted responsibly in removing the midfielder from the pitch after he appeared to suffer what was described as a knock-out feeling during the match.
With the Hull fixture scheduled for 3pm on Saturday, there are genuine doubts over whether enough time will have elapsed since the initial injury for FA protocols to be satisfied.
Jaissle addressed the situation directly after the match, making clear that player welfare was the overriding concern regardless of the sporting stakes involved.
“Yeah, with Nico, you know, as the manager, and also we as a club, have the responsibility,” the Newcastle boss said.
“He had that knock-out feeling, as you all saw. We were also responsible enough to take him off the pitch, even though he looked fine then, but there are also some rules, especially for that occasion.”
Jaissle added: “Independent of how important he is, and how important it is to win the match. We’re all human beings as well, and we take that seriously, so therefore we made the decision to take him off the pitch.”
Gonzalez joined Newcastle from Manchester City in the summer and has quickly established himself as a key figure in Jaissle’s midfield setup.
His absence would represent a significant blow for the Magpies, who already lost both Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali from their midfield ranks during the transfer window.
The loss of those two influential players made the arrival of Gonzalez all the more important, and Newcastle will be hoping the concussion protocols can be completed in time.
Supporters will be watching closely for any fitness update ahead of Saturday’s 3pm kick-off to determine whether the former Manchester City man can return to the starting lineup.
The post Nico Gonzalez Set To Miss Newcastle’s Hull City Clash Due To FA Concussion Rules appeared first on Gooner Daily.