Anthony Elanga faced a worrying moment during Newcastle’s 2-1 pre-season victory over Valencia on Saturday, as he was stretchered off following a harsh challenge from veteran defender Jose Gaya, who received a red card for the incident.

Newly-appointed Magpies manager Matthias Jaissle expressed his initial concerns, admitting he felt a sense of “fear” watching Elanga leave the pitch in distress. However, Jaissle reassured fans that the winger appears to have avoided serious injury:

"It seems to be not bad, so we are pleased. I hope it's true, then he can start again next week."

Despite the early setback in his debut match—where Filip Ugrinic put Valencia ahead within four minutes—Jaissle’s squad made a strong recovery. Substitute Yoane Wissa scored twice in the second half, leading to a comeback victory.

The match also marked debuts for goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek, midfielder Aladji Bamba, and winger Bazoumana Toure. Youngster Sean Steur impressed off the bench, showcasing the depth of talent in the squad. Meanwhile, Jaissle remains focused, especially with the Premier League opener against Liverpool approaching in two weeks:

"It was a friendly today. We will not smash the locker room now and celebrate a lot. We’re quite balanced."

He emphasized the importance of patience and development:

"Time is the key. They're young lads. It's never going to be easy in football, especially at the highest level, but we're here to help them."
Overall, while Jaissle acknowledges the positive aspects of the game, he is fully aware of the challenges that lie ahead.