NEWCASTLE NEWS

Javi Manquillo - Returns for friendly Manquillo (undisclosed) is on the bench for Saturday's friendly against Norwich City.

Impact Manquillo is healthy again and while he's not starting Saturday, he'll be used as a depth option for the upcoming season. Newcastle seem to have defensive injuries every season, so Manquillo will likely be needed at some point.

AUGUST 7, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Callum Wilson - Starting in friendly Wilson (undisclosed) is in the starting XI for Saturday's friendly against Norwich City.

Impact This is the news Newcastle fans were looking for after Wilson was scratched from the side last weekend. If all goes well, Wilson will be ready to start next weekend against West Ham, in his usual role as Newcastle's goal poacher.

AUGUST 7, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Miguel Almiron - Back in XI for friendly Almiron (hamstring) is in the starting XI for Saturday's friendly against Norwich City.

Impact Almiron reportedly only returned to training this week, so starting a friendly is a bit surprising. The hope is that he didn't return too soon, but given his relative health throughout his career, there's no reason to doubt him. He looks to be ready to start for the Aug. 15 opener against West Ham.

AUGUST 7, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Miguel Almiron - Returning to training Almiron (hamstring) will start training with the group this week, according to manager Steve Bruce.

Impact Almiron injured his hamstring a little more than a month ago, so this timeline seems about right, though he's not guaranteed to be ready in 10 days for the season opener. As with any hamstring injury, it's important to get back to full health before returning to the pitch.

AUGUST 5, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Karl Darlow - Back with team Darlow returned to "light" training Wednesday, according to the team's goalkeeping coach.

Impact Darlow has about 10 days to get back his fitness and into match shape, which shouldn't be a problem. He may appear in the team's next friendly and if that doesn't happen, Freddie Woodman has a slight chance to start the Aug. 15 opener in his place.

AUGUST 5, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Allan Saint-Maximin - Not playing in friendlies Saint-Maximin has missed the last two weeks of friendlies because of an unspecified illness, according to The Chronicle.

Impact It's unclear what's bothering Saint-Maximin, as it could be an injury or illness. Steve Bruce hasn't given a ton of updates on it, if any at all, which isn't a good sign. At his best, Saint-Maximin is one of the better players on the team, but he seems to miss extended periods of time every season to a variety of injuries.

AUGUST 3, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Jonjo Shelvey - Returns in friendly Shelvey (calf) played the final 30 minutes of Tuesday's behind-closed-doors friendly against Burnley.

Impact Shelvey had been dealing with a calf issue for a couple weeks, but it looks like he's feeling better and getting minutes about 10 days before the season opener. With another friendly appearance likely ahead, there's a chance Shelvey will be ready to start the Aug. 15 opener against West Ham.

AUGUST 3, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Arteta offers update on Willock's future at Arsenal as Newcastle wait in the wings ' Goal.com Mikel Arteta claims to be in the dark when it comes to Joe Willock's future at Arsenal, with Newcastle still hoping to take the 21-year-old midfielder back onto their books.

AUGUST 2, 2021 • GOAL.COM

Matt Ritchie - Back with squad Ritchie started in Friday's friendly, returning from a minor injury.

Impact This is a good sign for Ritchie, who still has a couple weeks before the season to get back his full fitness. He closed last season as a regular and if healthy, there's a decent chance he has that role once the new campaign begins.

AUGUST 2, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Callum Wilson - Scratched from friendly squad Wilson was scratched from the squad in Saturday's friendly, but manager Steve Bruce expects him to be fine for next weekend's friendly against Norwich City.

Impact Wilson is expected to be fine, but it's still not a good sign since he returned from his hamstring injury a little more than a week ago. He clearly has some muscle issues and it wouldn't be surprising if he picked up another injury or two this season, meaning he may not see more than the 26 appearances from last campaign.

AUGUST 2, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Paul Dummett - Doubt for opener Dummett picked up a calf injury last week and is a doubt for the Aug. 15 opener against West Ham, reports The Chronicle. According to manager Steve Bruce, "We think he'll be touch...

Impact It doesn't look like Dummett will be ready in two weeks unless he can make a quick recovery. It's unfortunate because he returned from a lengthy injury last season to eventually start the final few months. The hope is that this doesn't turn into a multi-month injury, though Newcastle still have a few other guys at center-back to turn to.

AUGUST 2, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Shearer meets Wilson: Asking Joelinton for No 9 shirt, targeting World Cup with Saint-Maximin, dinner with Ashley Alan Shearer interviews Callum Wilson about his move to Newcastle, playing for Steve Bruce and Graeme Jones and playing for England again.

AUGUST 2, 2021 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Joelinton - Scores in return from injury Joelinton bagged a goal in his return from a thigh injury in Friday's friendly against Burton Albion.

Impact The injury clearly wasn't serious for Joelinton, who picked up the muscle issue a little more than a week ago. With two weeks to go before the season, it looks like he'll be ready to go and start if needed for the Aug. 15 opener.

JULY 30, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Karl Darlow - Recovering from COVID-19 at home Darlow is recovering from COVID-19 at home after being sent to the hospital after becoming increasingly dehydrated, reports Sky Sports.

Impact The good news is that Darlow is getting better, but it's unknown when he'll be able to train again. With three weeks to go before the season, there's no guarantee he'll be ready for the Aug. 15 opener, pointing to a possible start for Mark Gillespie. As a positive, Darlow seems to be over a knee injury suffered in April, as the injury has been seldom mentioned since he tested positive for COVID-19.

JULY 26, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Mark Gillespie - Getting minutes in friendlies Gillespie is one option to play in the next friendly against Rotherham on Tuesday, according to Lee Ryder of the Chronicle.

Impact Gillespie is getting looks due to Karl Darlow's midsummer positive COVID-19 test and it could spell positive things come the start of the Premier League season. If both Darlow and Martin Dubravka (foot) aren't ready to play, then Freddie Woodman and Gillespie seem to be the next options available in goal.

JULY 25, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Karl Darlow - Tests positive for COVID-19 Darlow tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of a friendly against Rotherham United, according to Lee Ryder of the Chronicle via manager Steve Bruce. "Karl Darlow is still not very we...

Impact Darlow is one of a number of Newcastle players to struggle with COVID-19 during the pandemic and all one can do is wait for his health to improve. While there's still time ahead of the Premier League's opening weekend, Darlow will need more time to build up his fitness before the Aug. 15 game against West Ham.

JULY 25, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Javi Manquillo - Dealing with minor issue Manquillo is not taking part in Friday's pre-season friendly because of a minor issue, reports Scott Wilson of The Northern Echo.

Impact Manquillo was mostly a bench option last season, starting 10 matches despite being fairly healthy compared to some of his teammates. This early injury won't help him draw the attention of the managers.

JULY 23, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Matt Ritchie - Missing pre-season friendly Ritchie is not in the squad for Friday's friendly because of a minor injury, reports Scott Wilson of The Northern Echo.

Impact This doesn't sound serious, but it's something to keep an eye on in the coming weeks ahead of the season. Ritchie didn't have a role in the team the majority of last season, but once he found his way into the squad, he didn't let go, starting the final nine matches.

JULY 23, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Callum Wilson - Recovered from injury Wilson (hamstring) has been training fully and is in the starting XI for Friday's friendly.

Impact Wilson injured his hamstring in early May and has been able to recover over the summer. He injured both his hamstrings last season and that's something he'll look to keep in check in the upcoming campaign. When healthy, he was Newcastle's best player, producing 12 goals and five assists in 26 matches (23 starts).

JULY 23, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Isaac Hayden - Full go in preseason Hayden (knee) has been fully training and is in the starting XI for Friday's friendly.

Impact Hayden is healthy again after missing the final couple months last season with a knee injury. He was close to a return back in May and used the last couple months to get back his fitness. When healthy, he was a regular in Newcastle's midfield, though he had no goals or assists in 24 appearances.

JULY 23, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Joelinton - Injury not deemed serious Joelinton didn't suffer any structural damage in his thigh following a scan and could be fit enough to feature in Friday's friendly, reports The Chronicle.

Impact This is a good sign for Joelinton, who may not even miss a week of training after going down with an issue last Sunday. While his numbers have disappointed over two seasons at Newcastle, he's still a viable player in the squad and needed for depth given injury issues for guys like Callum Wilson and Allan Saint-Maximin.

JULY 21, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Martin Dubravka - Unlikely for season opener Dubravka (foot) confirmed to Sport.SK that he's "highly unlikely" to be available for the Aug. 15 opener against West Ham.

Impact This update aligns with the prior note from the Daily Mail about how Dubravka will likely be out until the end of August. As with any foot injury, it depends on how the player reacts, so he could be ready for the second match or the fifth match of the season, it's unknown at this point until he gets back to training.

JULY 21, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Jonjo Shelvey - Battling calf injury Shelvey is battling a calf injury suffered in training and is a doubt for the beginning of the season, reports Miles Starforth of The Gazette.

Impact Shelvey hurt his calf while running in pre-season training, which doesn't sound good. He started the final 21 matches of the season for Newcastle and a nagging muscle injury isn't what he needs to open the new campaign. With less than a month to go, he'll need to get back to 100 percent to be an option for the opener.

JULY 19, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Joelinton - Suffers possible injury in friendly Joelinton was forced off in the early minutes of Sunday's friendly because of a possible quad injury, according to Matthew Raisbeck of BBC.

Impact It's not a great start to the season if it's indeed an injury for Joelinton, who saw an uptick in production last campaign, totaling four goals and two assists. Even without the injury, he'll fight for playing time with Callum Wilson and that could lead to more of a bench role.

JULY 19, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Jamaal Lascelles - Ready for new season Lascelles (foot) is training fully ahead of the upcoming season, he recently told NUFC TV. "I'm fine. I've completely recovered. We weren't able to do much in the summer, but my fi...

Impact Lascelles missed the final couple months of last season, but it looks like he recovered in the summer and is once again fully fit. When healthy, he started every match for Newcastle, but that led to just 19 starts and he wasn't part of the group that closed the season in top form.

JULY 16, 2021 • ROTOWIRE