Newcastle United will resume their season with a home clash against Bournemouth ahead of the international break. Eddie Howe will be hoping to lead the Magpies to only their second Premier League win of the campaign when they face his former side at St James' Park.
The Magpies' trip to West Ham last weekend was postponed as the domestic calendar was suspended in the wake of the death of Queen Elizabeth II. The encounter with the Cherries is one of seven top-flight fixtures due to be held this weekend ahead of the state funeral on Monday.
Howe has been pleased with United's performances so far this season, but a second defeat of the campaign would undoubtedly prove a setback prior to a two-week break in the schedule. Here are three things we learned from the picture gallery of Wednesday's training session at Benton.
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Injury latest
Newcastle fans will be hoping the unexpected postponement will have given Bruno Guimaraes and Allan Saint-Maximin the recovery time required to return to action. Both were said to be close to featuring against Crystal Palace at the start of the month, only to be absent from the matchday squad.
No update has been given on the pair, but Guimaraes and Saint-Maximin were both absent from the club's latest training gallery. Miguel Almiron, Paul Dummett, Jacob Murphy, and Callum Wilson also did not feature.
This should not be taken as confirmation that the six listed above will not be eligible for selection this weekend. Howe will be pressed for injury updates in his pre-match press conference on Friday, with Newcastle desperate for the return of key men as the look to secure an important win.
Gillespie involved
The deadline-day loan departure of Martin Dubravka coupled with an injury to Karl Darlow prompted Newcastle to act swiftly in the market. Former Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius was signed on a short-term deal, and has trained with his new team-mates ahead of a likely spot on the bench this weekend.
Given United's confirmation of the 25-man Premier League squad, it was perhaps more interesting to see Mark Gillespie was also involved. The former Carlisle United and Motherwell shot-stopper was not included along with Emil Krafth, with the Sweden international ruled out with a long-term injury.
Howe's decision to bring in a new goalkeeper was telling when it comes to assessing Gillespie's prospects of appearing for his boyhood club again. However, the training gallery has proven the 30-year-old continues to be involved behind the scenes despite this omission.
White's return
Elliot Anderson's role in the senior setup this season has dominated much of the discussion around Newcastle's academy in recent weeks. Howe has often handed rising stars a chance to impress in training, and the 19-year-old's impressive loan spell with Bristol Rovers has catapulted the attacker into the first-team squad.
Joe White also spent the second-half of last season on loan in League Two, with the attacking midfielder making 16 appearances for Hartlepool United. A return to Victoria Park was reportedly on the cards, but the teenager did not secure a move away ahead of the deadline.
White's start to the season has been disrupted by a knee injury, but the academy prospect has started the last two fixtures for the under-21s. The attacking midfielder ended speculation over his future in March by signing a new three-year deal, and the latest session proves his progress will continue to be closely monitored by Howe.
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