Albion’s current closest rivals in the Premier League have suffered a triple injury setback.

Newcastle striker Callum Wilson is facing up to eight weeks on the sidelines after tearing his hamstring in Saturday's 3-2 victory over Southampton.

Defenders Fabian Schar and Javier Manquillo also likely to be out for eight weeks with knee and ankle injuries respectively.

Wilson, the Magpies' ten-goal leading scorer, limped off 36 minutes into the win over Saints.

Toon boss Steve Bruce said today: "Unfortunately Callum has a deep tear to his hamstring and that could be six to eight weeks.

"We hoped it was a grade one, something like two or three weeks. Unfortunately, it's worse than that, so we'll have to be without him for the best part of six weeks, eight weeks."

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Asked about Schar, Bruce added: "He's had an operation on his ligament in his knee.

"Knowing the way Fab is, then he'll try everything he possibly can to get himself fit because of the Euros as well, of course.

"He had the operation on Tuesday, so it's eight weeks, maybe. Manquillo did his ankle ligaments as well, he could be the same length of time."

Albion and Newcastle are currently level on points but Graham Potter’s men, who won 3-0 at St James’ Park early in the season, have the edge in terms of goal difference,