EDDIE Howe will be delighted to welcome back "unique" Fabian Schar at Wolves on Sunday - but hailed "outstanding" Emil Krafth for his impressive stint deputising for the suspended centre-half.

Schar is available to return at Molineux having served his three-match ban following his red card against Southampton on the opening weekend of the season.

Having announced his international retirement last month, the 32-year-old has spent the stoppage training on Tyneside and is likely to go straight into the starting XI at Wolves with Krafth having "nursed a problem" over the last couple of weeks.

Krafth is now back in training and even if he's not in the team on Sunday, the 30-year-old has a crucial role to play moving forward, particularly after impressively developing his game at centre-half.

Howe said: "Fabian's ball playing abilities are unquestioned so we have missed that aspect of his game but I think Emil has done an outstanding job, I can't compliment him enough especially when you consider that it is not his first position.

"He's been playing centre-half now for a while, we started that work with him at the back end of last season when we saw that as a position he could play in and play very well.

"He did that against Manchester United last year in the Carabao Cup, he was magnificent that night. It's an area that we see Emil developing more in as his career goes on with us but having that dual role is key - similar to the qualities Lloyd Kelly has in terms of playing both positions. But Fabian is unique and of course we've missed his outstanding qualities."

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It's still too early to put an expected date on a return to action for Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles.

Howe said: "Both players have shown a great attitude to their injuries. Long road ahead for both of them. They're sort of in the middle of that time now. Both seem a lot more positive and I think it's natural when you first have the injury and you sort of have the operation, and you're in the early stages, you can't do a lot, there's a feeling of frustration.

"I've been there as an athlete, it's a difficult moment. But when you start to do more and you get the heartbeat going and you get the physical work started, you feel so much better about yourself.

"They're currently in slightly different stages, I'd say Sven's probably a little bit ahead of Jamaal just in terms of their rehabs, but both players committed to their work and doing great."

Meanwhile, Lewis Miley has taken a big forward step in his recovery from the foot injury he suffered in the summer.

Howe said: "He's doing well, he's back on the grass, it is great to see him with his boots on. The first time was last week. He's on track I'd say for the three months he was given initially, I don't see any big change from that."