Newcastle’s Anthony Elanga avoids serious injury after being taken off on stretcher against Valencia

Newcastle United winger Anthony Elanga has avoided a serious injury after being taken off on a stretcher during the team’s pre-season friendly win over Valencia on Saturday.

New Newcastle head coach Matthias Jaissle said after the match that he hoped the 24-year-old would be fit to start next week, when Newcastle have pre-season games against Everton, Bayer Leverkusen and Strasbourg.

In the first half, Elanga was on the receiving end of a reckless challenge from Valencia left-back Jose Gaya, whose left boot connected high on Elanga’s right leg. Gaya received a straight red card for the tackle.

The Sweden international appeared in considerable pain on the pitch as his team-mates, led by striker William Osula, confronted Gaya. The challenge also sparked an angry reaction from Jaissle, taking charge of his first game since being announced as Eddie Howe’s replacement on Wednesday, with the German shouting at the assistant referee and fourth official.

Elanga was treated on the pitch at the Mestalla Stadium before being taken off on a stretcher.

Players confronted each other after Gaya’s challenge (Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Club sources with knowledge of the situation, speaking on the condition of anonymity, indicated that Elanga was walking after being taken off and was dealing with a shin contusion. In his post-match press conference Jaissle said that Elanga “seems to be OK”.

When asked about the challenge, he said: “The only thing I can say is that it seems to be not bad, and we hope it’s true that Anthony can start again next week.

“Of course I was in fear, definitely. But now I am more relaxed because the medical department is showing a green light for it. It was a really tough (challenge), it was not expected. Fouls are part of the game — that was really harsh.”

Elanga joined Newcastle from Nottingham Forest last summer for a fee of £52million plus add-ons, he made 49 appearances in all competitions in the 2025-26 campaign, though he made just 14 Premier League starts and failed to record a goal in the league.

Newcastle fell behind against Valencia after an early strike from midfielder Filip Ugrinic, but a second-half double from Yoane Wissa turned things around for a 2-1 win.

Fabian Schar and Lewis Miley both missed the game, while Lewis Hall left the training camp on Wednesday as he manages a minor injury. Tino Livramento remains sidelined as he recovers from the calf issue that forced him out of England’s World Cup campaign, while Dan Burn is yet to join the main squad after representing the nation at the tournament.