Newcastle United’s Anthony Elanga was seriously injured during a friendly match against FC Valencia on February 17, and the Swedish winger was struck by Valencia’s captain, Jose Luis Gaya, with a high, dangerous tackle that left Elanga in severe pain. According to SPORT1, the tackle was so severe that it prompted the referee to show Gaya a red card — the incident occurred in front of the benches, leading to a heated exchange between players and coaching staff.

Elanga’s Injuries and Recovery

Elanga was hit on the shin and immediately crumpled to the ground, clutching his leg; After prolonged treatment, he was carried off on a stretcher, but Though he was able to walk to the dressing room unaided afterward, no official diagnosis has been released. English media referred to the foul as a ‘Horror-Foul,’ while Newcastle United called it ‘entsetzlich’ (terrible) in a social media post.

Match Outcome and Performance

Despite the injury to Elanga, Newcastle managed to turn the match around. Valencia took an early 1-0 lead through Filip Ugrinić in the fourth minute. Gaya’s red card in the 35th minute shifted momentum, and Newcastle responded with a 2-1 victory thanks to a brace from Yoane Wissa in the second half (52nd and 76th minutes). Elanga was on the pitch for part of the match but did not score or register a goal.

Elanga’s Role in Previous Matches

Elanga recently played for Newcastle in the EFL Cup. During a semi-final second leg against Manchester City on February 12, he scored a goal in a 3-1 loss that left the tie at 1-5 on aggregate. Manchester City had already secured a 2-0 win in the first leg. Elanga’s goal came in the second half, but it was not enough to close the gap. Manchester City went on to win the tie and will face Arsenal in the EFL Cup final on March 23 at Wembley Stadium.

The EFL Cup final will be a highly anticipated match, as both teams are among the top contenders in English football. Newcastle’s performance, however, has been inconsistent in recent competitions. Despite Elanga’s efforts, the team has struggled to match the consistency of teams like Manchester City and Arsenal.

Elanga, who joined Newcastle from Manchester United in 2023, has shown flashes of brilliance but has also been prone to injuries and inconsistent form. His recent injury adds to concerns about his fitness and availability for key matches in the coming months.

Newcastle’s next Premier League match will be on February 24 against Manchester United at Old Trafford. Elanga’s availability for that match remains uncertain pending medical evaluation.