FABIAN SCHAR and Kieran Trippier are available for Newcastle United’s weekend home game with Chelsea, with Miguel Almiron and Alexander Isak also on track to line up against the Blues.

However, none of the Magpies’ long-term absentees have made sufficient progress over the international break to be considered for tomorrow's St James' Park showdown, and Eddie Howe does not expect any of them to feature against Paris St Germain on Tuesday either.

Schar was not involved in any of Switzerland’s three matches during the international break, but having returned to Tyneside, the centre-half is back in training and available for the weekend.

Trippier was withdrawn from England’s game in North Macedonia on Monday because of a personal issue, but that has now been resolved and he has trained at Newcastle’s Darsley Park complex ahead of the Chelsea game.

“Fabian was more precautionary I think, rather than any injury,” said Howe. “We saw him (on Thursday) and he looked good. Kieran’s fine. He’s trained with us since he returned from England, so he’s in a good place.”

Almiron was withdrawn from international duty with Paraguay after suffering a hamstring injury in the 2-0 defeat at Bournemouth earlier this month, while Isak has been sidelined since suffering a recurrence of his own hamstring problem in last month’s home defeat to Borussia Dortmund.

Howe was reluctant to go into too much detail about either player at his pre-match press conference, but the pair are both expected to be available to face Chelsea.

“I don’t want to give too much away,” said Howe, when asked directly about Isak’s availability. “We have a number of players who are longer-term injuries, and we’re probably looking at January for a few of them.

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"There’s a couple of others that are sooner, and we hope they can be back involved and help us. What I would say is that Miggy has worked really well since his hamstring.”

Sven Botman remains unavailable, although Newcastle’s medical staff remain hopeful that the Dutchman’s knee injury does not require an operation that could potentially sideline him for the majority of the rest of the campaign.

Botman has not featured since late September, but there will come a point soon where the centre-half has to be tested to see how his knee holds up to increased physical exertion.

“We know what his injury is, but we’re unsure at this moment in time how long Sven is going to be out,” said Howe. “We’re hoping it’s not going to be too long. We’re hoping he can rejoin the group pretty quickly, but there is a chance that might not happen so we’re keeping everything crossed.”

Sean Longstaff is a major doubt for the Chelsea game, although the exact timescale of the midfielder’s ankle injury remains unclear.

“Sean would be one of those players that we’re analysing and checking,” said Howe, who can at least call on Bruno Guimaraes this weekend, with the Brazilian having served a one-match suspension in the defeat at Bournemouth prior to the international break.”