Eddie Howe is facing a selection headache as Newcastle United prepare to begin the new season with a clash against Nottingham Forest. The Magpies will be desperate to make a winning start to the new season when they welcome the newly-promoted side to St James' Park on Saturday.
United concluded their pre-season preparations with a back-to-back victories over European opponents in front of more than 87,000 fans. Howe named two different starting elevens for the wins over Atalanta and Athletic Bilbao, and has almost a full squad at his disposal to pick his team to face Steve Cooper's side.
Newcastle have just two long-term absentees currently on the treatment table, and there were a number of returning stars on show as the Magpies trained at the club's Benton base on Wednesday. Here is a look at three things we learned from United's latest training session as they prepare to take on Forest.
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Manquillo return
Javier Manquillo did not feature in the Magpies' pre-season camp in Austria, and Howe confirmed the Spanish full-back was recovering from a long-standing groin complaint. The club's latest training gallery shows the 28-year-old is back training alongside his team-mates, although he is likely not match fit at this stage.
Manquillo featured 21 times last season, but was in and out of the side under Howe. Emil Krafth's improvement and the signing of Kieran Trippier inevitably raises questions over the former Liverpool full-back's role in the squad this season.
Munoz audition
Wednesday's session shows Munoz was one of several under-23 stars handed the chance to impress with the senior side. The Mexican striker made his first-team debut for the Magpies as a late replacement for Callum Wilson in the friendly win over Athletic Bilbao last weekend.
Summer signing Alex Murphy was also pictured in the latest training session. The Irish defender was confirmed as the Magpies' first arrival of the window, and joined the academy from Galway United.
Shelvey absence
The most notable absentee from Newcastle's latest training session was the ongoing absence of Shelvey. The midfielder is feared to have suffered nerve damage in his hamstring following the Eusebio Cup defeat to Benfica.
No timescale has yet been given over a potential return to action for Shelvey, who joins Kell Watts on the sidelines. The academy graduate is facing an extended period out of action having undergone a knee operation for an injury picked up during the training camp in Austria.
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