Newcastle were 1-0 down at the time of Elanga’s injury after Swiss midfielder Filip Ugrinic put Valencia ahead in the fourth minute.
Newcastle winger Anthony Elanga was stretchered off after a horror challenge that saw Valencia captain Jose Luis Gaya sent off during Saturday night’s friendly at the Mestalla Stadium. The incident sparked a mass brawl after the home midfielder was given a straight red card for a high lunge that connected with Elanga’s shin just in front of the dugouts.
Sweden international Elanga received the ball on the byline and neatly knocked the ball inside Valencia's Gaya. However, the left back slid in, catching the Newcastle forward on the lower leg in what was a horror tackle. Jaissle and his entire backroom staff rushed onto the pitch as Elanga lay injured on the turf following the tackle.
Elanga received lengthy treatment to his right leg before a stretcher was called for, and he was clearly still in distress when he left the field. He had been Newcastle’s best player to that point and his loss was a sour end to the first half for new boss Matthias Jaissle, whose side trailed 1-0 at the interval. “It was a shocking challenge, that’s right,” Jaissle told reporters, per The Northern Echo. “I was in fear, definitely.” However, the former Red Bull Salzburg and Al-Ahli boss has revealed Elanga appears to have had a lucky escape. He added: “But now I’m more relaxed because the medical department are almost showing green lights that it’s nothing serious. We are blessed. Hopefully he can be back in the next week.”
Thankfully, it has since been confirmed Elanga has not suffered a serious injury and is just struggling with a bruised shin. However, the 24-year-old was able to walk in the dressing-room during half-time and it is thought he has avoided serious injury.
Jacob Murphy took the place of his injured teammate, with Newcastle eventually turning the game around, going from 1-0 down at half time to win 2-1 thanks to two goals from Yoane Wissa. Speaking after, Jaissle said: “We will not smash the locker room now and celebrate a lot, we’re quite balanced. “First of all, I’m really happy that there are no serious injuries.
Guimaraes became the third star to leave the club this summer, following Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon out the door.