Jonjo Shelvey looks set for an extended spell on the sidelines after undergoing surgery on his hamstring in a huge blow to Newcastle United.
Shelvey suffered the injury in Newcastle's pre-season defeat against Benfica last month, but it was not immediately clear how long the midfielder would be out for. Eddie Howe admitted a few days afterwards that it looked like there was 'some nerve damage'.
The 30-year-old was in London last week for another assessment and it is understood Shelvey has since gone under the knife. Howe will update reporters on Shelvey's prognosis at his pre-match press conference on Friday, but the playmaker could now face a battle to play again before the Premier League season temporarily stops for the World Cup.
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Newcastle's final game before the pause is against Chelsea on November 12 before the campaign resumes more than six weeks later on Boxing Day. Club staff will certainly be wary of rushing Shelvey back as particular care has to be taken with serious muscle injuries like these because players can, obviously, suffer recurrences if they return to action too quickly.
ChronicleLive understands Shelvey is 'fine' in the circumstances, but it is a huge blow for the Londoner, who spent a month in Turkey with a personal trainer preparing for the new campaign and returned to Newcastle in the shape of his life. This latest setback also comes just a few months after Shelvey missed the final games of last season with a calf issue.
Shelvey, who will trigger a contract extension when he plays another three matches for the club, would have surely started Newcastle's opening game of the season against Nottingham Forest if he had been fit, but it fell to Bruno Guimaraes to play in his central role in a midfield three alongside Joelinton and Joe Willock on Saturday. Bruno now looks set to continue in that role moving forward.
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