ALEXANDER ISAK is winning his battle to be fit for Newcastle United’s return after the international break, with Callum Wilson also in with a chance of featuring in the squad to face Brighton.

However, Kieran Trippier has emerged as a major doubt for the home game with the Seagulls, with the full-back potentially facing a few weeks on the sidelines with a hamstring injury.

Isak has missed Newcastle’s last three games in all competitions after fracturing his toe in last month’s win at Wolves.

The striker withdrew from international duty with Sweden because of the problem and has been easing his way back into training at the Magpies’ Darsley Park base in the last week.

He is set to step up his training programme significantly in the next few days, with Newcastle’s medical staff confident he will able to start against Brighton provided he does not suffer any unforeseen setbacks next week.

Isak’s return will be a major boost for Eddie Howe, who has been forced to move Anthony Gordon from his preferred position on the wing into the ‘number nine’ role in the last two games.

Gordon slotted in reasonably effectively against Manchester City and Everton, but Isak’s return will increase Newcastle’s potency in the final third and enable Gordon to return to a role on the flank.

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Wilson has not featured in a matchday squad all season, indeed the 34-year-old’s last involvement with Newcastle’s first team came when he came off the bench as a second-half substitute on the final day of last season at Brentford.

The forward has been struggling with a combination of back and hamstring issues, but was finally given the green light to step up his recovery programme at the start of last month.

Like Isak, he has been easing his way back into things in the last week, but he is also set to test himself in a series of full training sessions in the next few days.

If he comes through those without any issues, he is set to return to the matchday squad for next Saturday’s game with Brighton, although his lengthy absence means he will almost certainly be restricted to substitute duties, regardless of whether Isak is available or not.

The news on Trippier is not so positive, with the full-back having suffered a hamstring strain in the second half of last weekend’s draw with Everton.

Trippier was forced to hobble off at Goodison Park, and while the injury is not particular serious, he is expected to be sidelined for a couple of weeks, meaning he will miss the game with Brighton. Tino Livramento, who was a late call-up to the England squad last week, is expected to take his place at right-back.