MATT TARGETT is set to return to training with Newcastle United next week, but Eddie Howe has confirmed that Callum Wilson will miss the start of the new season.

Targett made just one Premier League start in the whole of last season as a succession of injury issues kept him on the sidelines.

The full-back suffered a hamstring injury in December, then when he briefly returned to the squad in March, an Achilles problem ruled him out for the remainder of the campaign.

He is due to return to full training at Darsley Park next week though, and while Howe will manage him carefully before throwing him back into competitive action, his return will strengthen a left-back contingent that also features Lewis Hall, who is set to start the season as first choice, and Dan Burn, who has been playing at centre-half in the absence of Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles.

Wilson is behind Targett in his recovery schedule, with the striker already having been ruled out of the Premier League season opener against Southampton a week tomorrow.

However, Howe is hoping it will not be too much longer before Wilson is also back in full training, with the 32-year-old hoping to be available before the first international break.

“We hope Matt will train next week,” said the Magpies boss. “We haven’t seen him for a long, long time so that will be a big lift for him and for us. Hopefully, that return to training goes very well.

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“Callum is a bit further behind, but not too long. His recovery is going very well. He’s really positive and it’s not a long-term injury.

“He’s had an injection in his back and his back feels good. But there is a timescale for his return. I don’t think he’ll be back for Southampton, but hopefully for the early games in September.”

Newcastle complete their pre-season programme in the Sela Weekender this weekend, taking on Spanish side Girona this evening before hosting French Ligue 1 outfit Brest tomorrow afternoon.

Howe will have to manage his squad carefully given that some of Newcastle’s international players have only just returned from an extended break, but with the start of the Premier League season now just a week away, he is keen to get a full 90 minutes into as many of his players as possible.

“It’s probably the most difficult year for us to do this (play back-to-back matches on the same weekend), but we do believe in it,” said Howe. “We believe in trying to give people as close as we can to 90 minutes the week before the season starts.

“The only way to do that is to have two games because you have a squad and, numbers wise, it’s the way it works.

“This year is slightly different because we’ve had players come back at slightly different stages, so we have to manage the minutes well, but also the majority of the players have to be ready to play 90 minutes against Southampton in a week’s time. It’s an important weekend for us.”