EDDIE HOWE is hoping Alexander Isak has not suffered a serious eye injury in this afternoon’s 2-1 win at Wolves.

Isak is understood to have been complaining of blurred vision after he was struck in the face by a clearance from Craig Dawson shortly before-half-time.

The Swede did not reappear after the break, and he will be closely monitored in the next few days to ascertain his availability for Saturday’s trip to Fulham.

Howe said: “It was his eye, but I’m not 100 per cent sure what the issue was. I just knew he had to come off. We’ll find out more afterwards. I don’t know whether it’s serious or not, but we absolutely hope not. He’s such an important player for us.”

Howe made three half-time changes, also taking off Sean Longstaff and Joelinton, although the decision to replace those two players was tactical rather than being driven by an injury issue.

Sandro Tonali, Joe Willock and Harvey Barnes came on, with the latter scoring Newcastle’s 80th-minute winner courtesy of a superb long-range strike.

The Magpies boss said: “I just felt we needed a different energy in the team, and I also think it’s reflective of the quality of players that we have waiting to play.

“I wanted to give them long enough to influence the game. I didn’t want to cut their time too short where they couldn’t grab the game as we needed them to.

“I was really pleased with the attitude when they came onto the pitch. The ability of the players is not in question – I thought they all made a positive difference for us.”