Newcastle star taken to hospital after being forced off in first half of Sunderland defeat with a rib injury - as Eddie Howe shares update

Dan Burn has been taken to hospital after suffering a rib injury during Newcastle's Tyne-Wear derby clash against Sunderland .

The Magpies suffered a hugely disappointing 1-0 defeat at the Stadium of Light on Sunday in what was the first Premier League clash between the arch-rivals since 2016.

Burn started the game alongside Malick Thiaw at centre back and was a solid presence for Newcastle.

However, he was involved in a heavy collision with Sunderland's Nordi Mukiele midway through the first half.

After the hosts won possession, Burn slid to get to a loose ball first but Mukiele also tried to get there.

Momentum carried Mukiele into his counterpart, with the Frenchman's knee colliding with Burn's chest. Mukiele was booked for the challenge.

Newcastle's Dan Burn has been taken to hospital after suffering a rib injury against Sunderland

Burn was involved in a heavy collision with Nordi Mukiele and was left struggling to breathe

Burn was left on the floor in agony, and the 33-year-old received lengthy treatment from Newcastle's medical team.

He returned to action, but shortly after doing so, it was clear Burn was in discomfort and he called to the bench to tell them that he needed to be replaced.

Fabian Schar was introduced, and as Burn went off he was holding the right side of his chest.

Newcastle went on to concede the decisive goal minutes after half-time when Nick Woltemade headed past his own goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale.

Eddie Howe's side failed to muster up much of a response to ensure it was a miserable day from their perspective, and things were to get worse after full-time.

Sky Sports later reported that Burn had been taken to hospital with the rib injury he suffered.

They added that when the defender was taken off, he had told those on Newcastle's bench that he was struggling to breathe properly.

Howe confirmed the news when he said: 'Dan Burn has gone to hospital for a check of his ribs so hopefully he will be OK.'

Eddie Howe provided an update on Burn after the game and bemoaned his side's performance

Reflecting more widely on the defeat, Howe added: 'It was not our finest game.

'The effort was there but the quality was not. It was a game of really few chances decided by a freak goal and we could not create the opening we wanted.

'We know how much this means and all the focus on today was huge. We tried to deliver our best performance and we haven't done that.

'We feel disappointed in ourselves and that we left something on the pitch and that's a horrible feeling.'

The victory leaves Sunderland in seventh, four points and five places clear of Newcastle.