Newcastle need to arrest a run of 3 consecutive losses when they host high-flying Watford on Saturday, and manager Rafa Benitez has been handed a boost and blow at the same time.
Good news first – Mikel Merino and Paul Dummett could be back to the lineup come weekend having both made impressive progress recuperating.
However, the duo of Jamaal Lascelles and Christian Atsu are still not available for selection.
They both missed last weekend’s defeat at the hands of Manchester United, and while they are recuperating well, there isn’t a time range on when they will be fit to return to action.
According to Benitez, “Lascelles is getting better, but still he will need some time, and Atsu is the same. It is too early to say (when they will be back).”
With Isaac Hayden automatically set to sit out of the Watford game having received his 5th yellow card of the campaign against the Red Devils, having Merino back is a timely and huge boost.
The young Spaniard suffered a back injury earlier this month and was supposed to spend 10 weeks on the sidelines.
He has since stepped up recovery, though, and in the manager’s words: “With Merino, he was doing so well and the fans were so excited.
“If he is OK it will be a big boost for everyone, because you always need quality. He has been doing part of the training session, so that is positive news for us.”
The defence could be boosted by the return of Dummett who has been out of action since getting stretchered off against Tottenham during the opening weekend of the campaign.
Benitez boasts of his usefulness to the squad: “Dummett is important for us, because he is one of the only left-footed full backs that we have.
“He is someone who has some experience too, and will give us more competition and different options. Dummett has done the full training session, so that is positive news for us.”
