NEWCASTLE UNITED have no new Covid issues to contend with ahead of Monday’s home game with Manchester United – and Eddie Howe hopes to have Javier Manquillo and Emil Krafth back to full fitness for the St James’ Park showdown.

Manchester United have had a number of positive Covid tests in the last few weeks, but Ralf Rangnick’s side expect to be able to return to action on Monday night.

Newcastle have managed to avoid any positive Covid cases this month, and that remains the case, albeit with the caveat that further daily tests will be conducted between now and Monday night.

Magpies head coach Eddie Howe said: “We’ve got a clean bill of health currently, but we’re obviously going through our testing every day.

“With the current infection rate around the country, we’re doing well at the moment to stay clear of anything, but we don’t know what will happen in the future.”

Jamal Lewis and Federico Fernandez remain unavailable for Monday’s game, but Manquillo and Krafth are set to return to full training over the weekend having struggled with a non-Covid related illness in the last fortnight.

Howe said: “We’ve got a few concerns – we’ve got a few players who are still out, Federico Fernandez, Paul Dummett and Jamal Lewis will all miss the game.

“We have a few fatigued players, but we also hopefully have some players coming back into the squad from illness – Emil Krafth and Javier Manquillo will hopefully be back.

“We know we’re going to pick up a few niggles at this time of year, but hopefully nothing too serious at this stage.”

Lewis will miss the whole of the festive programme, but his hamstring injury is not as bad as initially feared and the full-back should be able to return by the middle of January.

Fernandez is following a similar timeframe as he recovers from an injury of his own, with Howe insistent that the Argentinian centre-half remains an important member of his squad.

He said: “I don’t think it’ll be too long with (Lewis). I think it’s not a major injury, but it’ll be enough to keep him out of the festive period and some games into early January.

“Usually with a hamstring strain, you’re looking at a minimum of three to four weeks, and I think that’s probably where it’ll be.

“I don’t think it’ll be several months (with Fernandez) either, but it’s a difficult one to put a time-frame on. I think it’s more weeks rather than months, but we’ll wait and see how he responds.

“He’s definitely going to be out of the Christmas period, and probably most of the start of January at least too. But he’s working hard, he’s improving every day and I think he’s in a good place mentally.

“He’s a very important player for us in every aspect because of his leadership qualities. The group love him, and I know the supporters love him, so he’s a very important player.”