LEWIS MILEY’S recovery from a foot injury is on track, but the Newcastle United midfielder is expected to remain sidelined for at least another month.

Miley suffered a broken metatarsal during pre-season and was immediately ruled out of the start of the campaign.

The midfielder has been given the green light to step up his recovery programme in the last couple of weeks and has been able to begin outdoor training, albeit on his own rather than as part of Newcastle’s wider first-team group.

The Magpies’ medical staff do not want to rush his return, but it is hoped he could begin to join in full training sessions within the next month, potentially enabling him to return to competitive action after the next international break.

“He’s (Miley) doing well,” said Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe, whose side return to action when they host Premier League leaders Manchester City on Saturday lunchtime. “He’s back on the grass, it is great to see him with his boots on.

“He’s on track, I’d say, for the three months he was given initially, although he’s still a long way off (being available to play). He’s back on the grass, but he’s not back with us. So, he’s still got a long way to go.”

Callum Wilson is also being eased back into training, although Howe admitted last week that the striker’s recovery from a combination of back and hamstring issues has not gone as smoothy as hoped.

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It was initially hoped Wilson would be back in time for this weekend’s showdown with City, but he will now miss both Saturday’s game and the following weekend’s trip to Everton.

The Magpies’ final league game at Goodison Park precedes the international break, and it is hoped Wilson will be available when Newcastle return to action with a home game against Brighton on October 19.

Newcastle had some awful injury luck last season, and with no European matches to pack out the playing schedule, Howe is hoping his side can avoid the kind of problems that plagued them last term.

“I always think you’re going to get the odd thing during the season, of course you will,” he said. “But I thought last season was incredible with the amount of strange injuries we had. There were ones that were difficult to work out why, whether that’s two shoulder injuries from innocuous situations or Dan (Burn) landing on his back etc. Hopefully, that’s all in the past now.”