Newcastle United made six substitutions in the 4-0 beating of Aston Villa and some fans on social media have been questioning why it was allowed.
Howe made a trio of double changes from the 71st minute, just four minutes after Almiron scored Newcastle’s fourth goal of the match.
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The Paraguayan star netted after Callum Wilson hit a double either side of the break and Joelinton scored the host’s third.
Villa had won 4-0 at home the week before, but Newcastle made light work of Aaron Danks’ team at St. James’ Park. Unai Emery has his work cut out when he begins from Tuesday onwards.
In the final minutes of the second half, many fans were left confused as to why Newcastle made their fifth and sixth change.
But Premier League rules state that if the opposition make a concussion substitution, you are then granted a free substitution.
Villa’s shot-stopper Emi Martinez had been replaced by Robin Olsen in the first half due to concussion and due to that reason, Newcastle were able to make a sixth sub in the game.
Olsen came on for Martinez in the first half of the game after the Argentine took a blow to the head from Tyrone Mings’ knee. It is unclear whether or not he will be fit to play against United next week.
Speaking after the game, Danks said of the ‘goalkeeper’s health: “He’s showered, dressed, changed and walking around talking to everybody so he seems fine in himself at the moment but, obviously, the club will continue to monitor that and they’ll take care of him in the coming hours and days to make sure that continues.
“I know he took a blow to the head and it was treated as a head injury. I haven’t had a chance to speak to the doctors or the medics on anything more than that, really, other than it was a head injury and Robin was coming into the game. That’s all I know about it at the moment.”
