Newcastle United are hoping Ryan Fraser, Callum Wilson, and Kieran Trippier can all overcome their injury concerns to feature against Arsenal.
Newcastle United have a few injury problems leading into their match against Arsenal on Monday, and there’s certainly no chance that Jonjo Shelvey or former Gunner Joe Willock will feature.
Eddie Howe has confirmed that Shelvey will be out until pre-season, whilst he said of Willock: “Joe has had an issue with a tendon in his knee for a while.
“We thought we’d solved the problem, but it’s come back, so he needs a period of rest. He’s had a couple of injections into his knee, and we anticipate that he’ll be fine for pre-season.”
Elsewhere, there’s been some good news for Newcastle, with Ryan Fraser returning to training on Wednesday. Fraser had spent five games out of action through injury, but he’s in contention for Monday’s squad.
Callum Wilson and Kieran Trippier both returned from long-term issues to feature as second-half substitutes last weekend, but they are still doubts to start on Monday as they feel the effects of their first games back.
“I think both players would say they are very keen to start,” Howe began. “My job is to make sure I’m doing the best, not just for the individual, but also for the team as well.
“We have to make sure that they’re fit enough and physically good enough to last a long period in the game, because obviously I don’t want to be making too many changes too early in the match, which would unbalance the team.
“They’re also slightly different – you can’t group them together and say they’re at the same stage. Callum has done more training work than Kieran, although of course, he sustained a more serious injury.
“We’ll make a decision based on the training week this week as to whether they’re ready to start the game on Monday.”
This is a must-win game for Arsenal, so they’ll be hoping the trio returning from injury aren’t quite ready to produce their best form just yet.
The Gunners have their own injury problems, with Thomas Partey, Kieran Tierney, and possibly Gabriel Magalhaes out, on top of Rob Holding’s suspension and Ben White’s slow return from his recent absence. So they won’t have a clean bill of health either.