With the new Premier League season just over a fortnight away, Newcastle (3/1 with Betfred to be relegated) have been rocked byt the news that key defender Steven Taylor will miss the first three months of the campaign.

The 24-year-old was forced to undergo surgery after suffering a dislocated shoulder in a friendly at Carlisle on July 17 and the Magpies have now confirmed they expect him to be out until the end of October at the earliest.

A Newcastle statement read: “After further assessment on the injury over the past week, the medical bulletin is that it will be a three-month period of rehabilitation.”

The latest setback came just as the former England Under-21 captain was making his first appearance following a knee injury he sustained back in January.

Toon boss Chris Hughton may opt to delve into the transfer market to find a replacement for Taylor although the purchase of former England stalwart Sol Campbell will ease the burden on his back-line.

Fabricio Coloccini, Danny Simpson, Tamas Kadar and Mike Williamson are all vying for a start at centre-back alongside, presumably, Campbell, when Newcastle begin their campaign at Manchester United on August 16 (Man Utd 2/9, Newcastle 9/1, Draw 9/2 – Match Betting).