- Eddie Howe’s side have struggled after losing a number of key players to injury
- Elliot Anderson, meanwhile, will be out a little longer, possibly up to six weeks
- Football is changing… managers cannot rely on their reputations. Just look at the Golden Generation – It all starts
Newcastle United will be boosted in the coming weeks by the returns of Joe Willock, Callum Wilson, Harvey Barnes and Jacob Murphy, but Elliot Anderson will need longer in his return from a back injury.
Mailsport understands Willock is “two to three weeks” away from playing again. The midfielder has been out for more than two months after suffering another Achilles tendon problem.
Barnes, who injured his foot in his second start for the Magpies in September, could be back before Willock. The £38million winger has been performing well of late, but caution is also needed given the pain he felt when he initially tried to return in December.
Wilson remains a doubt for next weekend’s trip to Fulham in the FA Cup, but the calf problem he is nursing is unlikely to keep him out beyond the end of the month. Murphy is perhaps the closest to strengthening Eddie Howe’s squad. He has made good progress following surgery on a dislocated shoulder in November.
Although news of a scan of Anderson’s stress fracture in his back last week was positive, he will need around six weeks before returning to action. Meanwhile, as confirmed by Mailsport On Thursday, Joelinton will undergo season-ending thigh surgery next week.
Newcastle will welcome back a number of injured players in the coming weeks, including Callum Wilson
However, Elliot Anderson will be on the sidelines for an extended period, with six weeks to go until he returns
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Howe hopes there are no setbacks for those close to fitness given the injury problems that have plagued Newcastle’s season. They have lost their last four in the Premier League and have dropped to tenth in the table. The head coach’s most recent benches included more than one goalkeeper and several youth players with little senior experience.
Willock’s comeback in particular is seen as key to easing the pressure on the midfielder three of Bruno Guimaraes, Sean Longstaff and Lewis Miley. Newcastle have missed his running power during a season in which he made just three starts.