Aleksandar Mitrovic and Dwight Gayle will both be fit for the visit of Brighton and Hove Albion to St James Park this weekend, according to The Shields Gazette.
The pair were both substituted during last night’s 2 – 0 win over Cheltenham Town in the EFL Cup. Rafa Benitez confirmed that both suffered concussion although the Serb proved to be a dopey …. when it came to discipline last season so how anyone could tell he was concussed, I’m not sure.
Benitez confirmed Ayoze Perez, last night’s hero, will be ready for Saturday as well with just Rolando Aarons a concern.
What should have been a routine victory has come at a high cost with Aarons foot injury leaving the squad a little thin in the wide role if he is absent for any length of time.
In those circumstances, it would be little surprise if Rafa pulled the plug on the much speculated departure of Yoan Gouffran.