Steve Bruce faces a battle to shore up Newcastle's relegation battle on and off the field.
The head coach was dealt a massive blow this morning after Allan Saint-Maximin and Miguel Almiron were ruled out until April.
And Bruce - who gave his players two days off to let them cool off from the chaotic draw with Wolves – needs to patch up his faltering reign on the training ground to turn around low morale and dissatisfaction.
Saint-Maximin has a torn groin muscle and Almiron, the recent stand out player, has damaged knee ligaments.
Callum Wilson is already in rehab after pulling a hamstring against Southampton and is out for another two games at least.
That leaves Newcastle without their three top strikers who have scored 16 of their 27 goals in the league, and provided nine assists.
Newcastle are on a run of two wins in 17 games, and are fourth bottom, holding off Fulham but three points, with a trip to West Brom at the weekend.
Bruce can replace Saint-Maximin with Jacob Murphy, and Almiron with Ryan Fraser, and also has Dwight Gayle, and Matt Ritchie to call upon.
United players will be crying out for a clear tactical plan for March, which could define Bruce's future.
Several remain unhappy at the lack of clarity after a substitution led to confusion in the ranks and players out of position that led to Ruben Neves equalising at the weekend.
Bruce singled out several players for public criticism.
They included Ritchie for not delivering instructions when he came on, Martin Dubravka for not saving Neves' header, Joelinton for not burying a late chance and Jamal Lewis for not cutting out a cross.
Losing Almiron and Saint-Maximin rob the club of their speed, creativity, and unpredictability, and Bruce will be wondering where the goals will come from to save the club from relegation.
Asked if Newcastle could win games without his top three hit-man Bruce said: “We are going to have to. We will have to find a way. Our top scorer last year only had six goals and we found ways to get results.
“It has been brutal to us, to our big players. We have to get on with it, accept it, and take on the challenge.”
Newcastle said in a statement: “Almirón sustained a knee injury and had to be replaced at half time, while Saint-Maximin suffered a groin injury in the 63rd minute.
“Both have undergone scans and will continue their rehabilitation with the club's medical team.
Defender Emil Krafth, who was substituted in the same game, is set to resume training later this week.”
