CALLUM WILSON has received the green light to return to Newcastle United’s starting line-up for Saturday’s game at Fulham, with Bruno Guimaraes also expected to feature in the starting side at Craven Cottage.
However, Allan Saint-Maximin is only expected to be on the substitutes’ bench at best when the Magpies return to action after the international break, with Alexander Isak potentially set to miss out on the squad altogether following his early return from Sweden because of a thigh problem.
Eddie Howe has spent the last 24 hours nervously awaiting updates from his medical team, with a host of Newcsatle’s attacking players suffering from injury complaints.
Wilson’s prognosis is the most positive, with the England international now back in full training after completing his recovery from the hamstring injury sustained in last month’s draw with Manchester City.
The 30-year-old has come through this week’s exertions without any ill effects, and will go straight back into Howe’s starting side this weekend as Newcastle look to secure a first league victory since the opening weekend of the season.
Guimaraes should also be available to start against Fulham, with the Magpies’ decision to pull him out of the Brazil squad having paid decisions.
The midfielder did not feature in either of Brazil’s friendlies against Ghana and Tunisia after Newcastle’s medical team requested that he returned to Tyneside so his ongoing thigh issue could be addressed.
Guimaraes is set to take part in full training sessions today and tomorrow, and provided he comes through those unscathed, he should line up against the Cottagers.
Elliot Anderson has trained this week despite withdrawing from the Scotland Under-21 squad with a hamstring issue, and could find himself back on the bench against Fulham.
He might well be joined by Saint-Maximin, who is set to step up his own recovery from a hamstring problem in the next few days.
The Frenchman, who has been sidelined since last month’s draw with Wolves, is unlikely to be deemed fit enough to start on Saturday, but his return to the squad would still be a major boost given the lack of creativity that blighted Newcastle’s 1-1 draw with Bournemouth in their final outing before the international break.
Things are not quite as positive when it comes to Isak and Chris Wood, both of whom suffered injury setbacks during the international break.
Isak was withdrawn from the Sweden squad after complaining of a thigh problem, and while the injury is not thought to be too serious, he is unlikely to be risked this weekend.
Similarly, Newcastle will be keen to tread cautiously with Wood, who was forced off in the first half of New Zealand’s defeat to Australia earlier this week after suffering a rib injury.
Wood is set to be assessed on Tyneside in the next 24 hours, with the results of a scan set to determine Newcastle’s next course of action. Again though, there would appear to be little chance of the former Burnley forward playing a prominent role in south London this weekend.
Jonjo Shelvey remains sidelined, having undergone surgery on the hamstring injury he suffered in pre-season, but the midfielder is making good progress as he gradually steps up his recovery and should be able to return to first-team action in the first half of next month. It had been feared Shelvey might struggle to return before the November shutdown for the World Cup, but he should now be available well before then.
Karl Darlow and Emil Krafth remain long-term absentees, while Matt Ritchie has suffered a minor calf injury in training and is set to be sidelined for a couple of weeks.
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