Newcastle United have been handed an injury concern ahead of the Premier League opener against Nottingham Forest next month.
Steve Cooper’s side travel to St James’ Park for their first Premier League game in over 20 years on August 6. It’s a game both teams will be targeting to get a good start to the 2022/23 campaign.
Both Newcastle and Forest are expected to have a bit of a squad overhaul this summer. The Magpies have so far added five new faces to their squad in the transfer window with the likes of Nick Pope and Sven Botman arriving at the club.
READ MORE: Steve Cooper delivers verdict on Nottingham Forest transfer business in busy window
READ MORE: Nottingham Forest recruitment chief drops 'very interesting' transfer hint after Bayern Munich move
Forest have so far been the busier of the two, bringing six new players to the club. The latest addition being full-back Neco Williams, who has joined from Liverpool for a £17 million fee.
Pre-season is now well underway for Premier League sides, with a lot heading off on overseas tours. It’s no different at Newcastle with Eddie Howe putting his players through their paces in a training camp in Austria.
There is however one absentee from the squad who has missed the trip through injury. Full-back Javier Manquillo has been absent from first-team training since the start of pre-season. He missed out on the first pre-season game of the season against Newcastle.
ChronicleLive report that the 28-year-old is back in his native Spain receiving treatment, meaning he won’t make the trip to Austria. That therefore could make him a doubt for the season opener against Forest.
Manquillo played a total of 21 times for Newcastle last season, but did find himself out of the starting lineup for the last couple of months of the campaign. He missed the last two games of the campaign due to chickenpox.
What are your early predictions for the game against Newcastle? Tell us in the comments section
READ NEXT:
- Opening bid 'rejected' for Nottingham Forest transfer target as bumper price tag emerges
Steve Cooper makes admission on Nottingham Forest contract situation
Neco Williams sends special message to Nottingham Forest fans after Liverpool transfer
Nottingham Forest announce change to pre-season friendly fixture