It’s the 86th minute of Newcastle’s 2-0 FA Cup fourth round win over Fulham and a prostrate Kieran Trippier is being swarmed by a medical pit crew.
Alexander Isak is jogging through treacle to the dugout in search of water while Lewis Miley wanders aimlessly with his head in his hands. Even after a relatively straightforward dismantling of a second-string Fulham side who last played three days ago, Newcastle’s players look exhausted.
Think they’re tired now? This was their first match in two weeks – they’re off to Villa Park on Tuesday, before playing Luton next Saturday. They may well be forced to start the same XI in all three games, but equally couldn’t swallow an injury anywhere but full-back.
