Haidara escapes serious injury

Newcastle United full-back Massadio Haidara has escaped any significant injury following Callum McManaman’s horror tackle.

Haidara was the victim of a high, two-footed challenge from the Wigan striker in Sunday’s 2-1 Premier League defeat to Wigan Athletic.

But the 21-year-old went unpunished as the incident was not seen by the referee, while the Football Association took no retrospective action.

However, Newcastle have confirmed that scans on the 20-year-old defender did not reveal any significant ligament or bone damage.

A statement on the club’s official website read: “We can confirm that results of the latest scan on Massadio Haidara show that the player has very fortunately escaped any significant bone or ligament damage following the dangerous tackle by Wigan Athletic’s Callum McManaman on Sunday.

“We are very pleased that the extent of his injury is less severe than first feared and is limited to bruising to the bone and soft tissue damage.

“Depending on the speed of his recovery he should be fit to play again in early April.

“Massadio will continue to be assessed over the coming days. He has been very lucky that he has not suffered more serious injury and this positive diagnosis in no way lessens the Club’s views with regard to the severity of the tackle from which it resulted.”

Haidara moved to Newcastle in January after three years with Ligue 1 club Nancy.