Rafa Benitez has shared good and bad news on the injury front ahead of Saturday’s game with Bournemouth, suggesting that Lascelles should be fine – but admitting that it will be ‘difficult’ for Muto or Shelvey to be fit in time.
This comes after all three limped off during the 1-0 win over Watford last weekend, with Shelvey and Muto having ‘muscle injuries’ and Lascelles suffering with a shoulder problem.
Here’s what Rafa’s had to say about each at the NUFC foundation dinner tonight, suggesting that Lascelles should make it after training today – but that Muto and Shelvey may miss out after sitting out and receiving treatment so far this week:
‘’Jamaal was doing a light training session, so he could train.“The other two had treatment , so we’ll see.
“It will be difficult for them ( Shelvey and Muto) for this weekend but we will see, little by little, how they progress.’’
Newcastle injury update:
Jamaal Lascelles trained today and should be fine for Bournemouth ✅
Jonjo Shelvey and Yoshinori Muto unlikely to make it with muscle injuries ?— Keith Downie (@SkySports_Keith) November 6, 2018
The absence of Shelvey and Muto against Bournemouth would be somewhat of a blow, however this is softened by the fact their likely replacements (Ki and Perez) came on and changed the game against Watford.
Ki had his best performance in a Newcastle shirt and will hopefully take that into the next game, and Perez may have been set to start anyway after scoring the winning goal.
Lascelles being fit is a boost, although Fabian Schar would have been more than capable of stepping in if his outstanding cameo over the weekend was anything to go by.
