Steve Bruce has been speaking to the media this morning ahead of Sunday’s game with Man Utd at St James’ Park, and he’s shared some fairly positive news on the fitness front.
He starts by saying ‘everyone is near enough fit’, however the game will come just too soon for Matt Ritchie (ankle) and Florian Lejeune, while Isaac Hayden begins his three-match ban after seeing red at Leicester last weekend.
The surprise news is that Dwight Gayle and Jonjo Shelvey are both in contention to make the bench, with the former ‘training all week’ and the latter appearing to have returned earlier than expected after suffering a ‘grade two’ hamstring strain in the 0-0 draw with Brighton.
Another boost is news that both Allan Saint-Maximin and Jetro Willems have been deemed fit to start by the NUFC head coach, while youngster Matty Longstaff is also in with a shout of making the squad with injuries and suspensions in midfield.
