It is no secret that Newcastle United have faced an injury crisis in recent weeks. Several big-hitters watched on from the sidelines as the Magpies struggled to brush aside Crystal Palace and Bournemouth on home soil.
The international break was supposed to be a blessing so Newcastle could buy enough time to get their star players back. However, the opposite has proven to be the case…
First-team regulars have continued to pick up knocks while away representing their respective countries. ChronicleLive have produced a round-up on the Toon treatment table ahead of this weekend’s trip to Fulham below.
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Callum Wilson
Ok, so let us start with the good news. After over a month out, Newcastle’s number nine is inching towards a return on Saturday.
A hamstring strain saw Wilson sidelined but, speaking on his podcast, he confirmed his availability for the London trip. The 30-year-old said: “I’ve worked hard to get to a point where I’m available for selection. I’ll be working hard this week in training, and then we’ll see where we are at.”
Bruno Guimaraes
Swelling in his thigh caused Guimaraes to miss Brazil’s 3-0 win over Ghana and Newcastle ordered their talisman back to Tyneside. International coach Tite agreed, allowing the 24-year-old to miss the 5-1 annihilation of Tunisia.
Crucially, the midfielder’s latest setback is not thought to be as bad as initially feared and he remains touch-and-go for Fulham. While not as nailed-on as Wilson, Guimaraes’ importance to Newcastle - and the desperate need for a win - may force Eddie Howe to risk his midfield maestro.
Allan Saint-Maximin
Saint-Maximin has not been seen since his stunning last-minute equaliser against Wolverhampton Wanderers. The winger has teased a return on social media by revealing his next goal celebration but he is not expected to make a full return.
Reports suggest the French maverick may have to settle for a place on the bench as he recovers from a hamstring strain. Critics labelled Saint-Maximin as inconsistent during the summer amid rumours over a potential exit, but the 25-year-old has hit back with a goal and two assists in his first four games.
Alexander Isak
Record signing Isak pulled out of Sweden’s squad for their games against Serbia and Slovenia with a thigh problem. The bad news is that he is expected to miss Fulham and could be out for several weeks.
Isak’s injury has not been labelled as long-term but upcoming games against Brentford and Manchester United remain a doubt. Frustration for Newcastle fans brews from their wait to see the £58million man line up alongside Wilson and Saint-Maximin.
Breaking down defences and scoring goals has proven the Magpies’ downfall this season and a full-strength attack could hold the key to fixing their woes.
Jonjo Shelvey
The midfielder has returned to training after suffering a severe hamstring injury in pre-season against Benfica. While progress remains ahead of schedule, he is not expected to feature until October.
Chris Wood
Wood was forced off after 33 minutes of New Zealand’s second friendly in a matter of days against Australia. A nasty collision saw the striker injure his ribs and he provided an update after the game.
“I went in for a challenge and something popped in my rib,” Wood said. “It hurt to run and breathe. So I had to come off.”
If Wood has either fractured or separated his ribs, he could face up to a month on the sidelines. Howe is expected to provide an update on his fitness at the pre-match press conference.
Matt Ritchie
While first-team opportunities are rare for the veteran, Howe was dealt another blow in midweek as Ritchie suffered a calf injury. He will likely miss the trip to Craven Cottage.
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